News / National
SA - Zimbabwe permits, Mohadi speaks out
01 Apr 2014 at 07:10hrs | Views
THE government is yet to receive formal communication from South Africa concerning the renewal of special permits for Zimbabwean immigrants based in the neighbouring country, a Cabinet minister, said yesterday.
There are fears that Zimbabwean immigrants without permits in South Africa are likely to be deported by the end of the year when a special dispensation they received two years ago expires.
Naledi Pandor, South Africa's Home Affairs Minister has been quoted in the neighbouring country's media warning those who wanted to renew work and residence permits that they would not be allowed to do so while in South Africa.
Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi yesterday said he was not aware of the developments.
"I have been hearing this from the media but the South African government has not communicated anything to us regarding permits for Zimbabweans in that country," said Mohadi.
"We can only engage in talks to protect our people if we have received formal communication."
He added: "If the reports are true, I hope the South African government will communicate with us on time so that we begin negotiations and map the way forward."
Mohadi said the government was not in a position to offer any permits for Zimbabweans based in South Africa.
"The government only issues permits for foreigners who want to work here in Zimbabwe, not the other way round. As far as I am concerned permits for Zimbabweans who want to work in South Africa are done in that country not in Zimbabwe," he said.
Last month, Pandor was quoted as saying she was yet to make recommendations to her cabinet on how to proceed with the management of Zimbabweans who received the special dispensation allowing them to become documented work seekers.
She said her government approved an approach to the expiry of permits issued under the Special Dispensation for Zimbabweans Project (DZP) in 2009.
Permits issued during the initial DZP will expire in November.
South Africa suspended the deportation of undocumented Zimbabweans in May 2009 and later introduced a special dispensation during which Zimbabweans were given an opportunity to regularise their stay in South Africa by applying for work, business and study permits.
The process of taking applications was officially completed on December 31, 2010.
The documentation process was later extended to July 31, 2011 following a special request from the Zimbabwean government.
It is estimated that there are about two million Zimbabweans living in South Africa.
Exact figures are difficult to obtain due to the large proportion of undocumented migrants.
Most Zimbabweans reside in South Africa's Gauteng province with a large concentration in the more economically advanced urban areas of the province.
There are fears that Zimbabwean immigrants without permits in South Africa are likely to be deported by the end of the year when a special dispensation they received two years ago expires.
Naledi Pandor, South Africa's Home Affairs Minister has been quoted in the neighbouring country's media warning those who wanted to renew work and residence permits that they would not be allowed to do so while in South Africa.
Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi yesterday said he was not aware of the developments.
"I have been hearing this from the media but the South African government has not communicated anything to us regarding permits for Zimbabweans in that country," said Mohadi.
"We can only engage in talks to protect our people if we have received formal communication."
He added: "If the reports are true, I hope the South African government will communicate with us on time so that we begin negotiations and map the way forward."
Mohadi said the government was not in a position to offer any permits for Zimbabweans based in South Africa.
"The government only issues permits for foreigners who want to work here in Zimbabwe, not the other way round. As far as I am concerned permits for Zimbabweans who want to work in South Africa are done in that country not in Zimbabwe," he said.
She said her government approved an approach to the expiry of permits issued under the Special Dispensation for Zimbabweans Project (DZP) in 2009.
Permits issued during the initial DZP will expire in November.
South Africa suspended the deportation of undocumented Zimbabweans in May 2009 and later introduced a special dispensation during which Zimbabweans were given an opportunity to regularise their stay in South Africa by applying for work, business and study permits.
The process of taking applications was officially completed on December 31, 2010.
The documentation process was later extended to July 31, 2011 following a special request from the Zimbabwean government.
It is estimated that there are about two million Zimbabweans living in South Africa.
Exact figures are difficult to obtain due to the large proportion of undocumented migrants.
Most Zimbabweans reside in South Africa's Gauteng province with a large concentration in the more economically advanced urban areas of the province.
Source - chronicle
