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Permit renewal for Zimbabweans in SA
07 Jun 2014 at 19:19hrs | Views
Zimbabweans permit holders living in South Africa will have their permits renewed in December.
The announcement comes amid speculation that the permits would not be renewed, the Department of Home Affairs said.
The department said the permits will only be renewed after they had expired in December.
This brings end to speculation that some of the Zimbabwean's permits were coming to an end in November and that the department had intended not to renew the permits.
However, Home Affairs spokesperson David Hlabane said permit holders would have to re-apply after December when their current permits expired. More than 200000 Zimbabweans were issued with permits in the 2009 special dispensation process.
Hlabane said they had noted reports on the upcoming expiry of permits issued to Zimbabwean nationals under the special dispensation in 2009.
"This was to document those who were in South Africa illegally as a result of the political and socio-economic situation in their country. The permits will expire in about December this year," Hlabane said.
He said this was because the Cabinet had approved the approach on the expiry of permits issued under the special dispensation for Zimbabweans in terms of which permit holders will be expected to reapply for permits.
"As per the Cabinet's decision, the Minister of Home Affairs will in due course provide more clarity on the process to be followed and the date of commencement.
It is not South Africa's intention to reverse the benefits of the dispensation," Hlabane said.
The special dispensation allowed close to 250000 Zimbabwean nationals to be regularised through South Africa's permitting regime.
It also enhanced national security and the management of migration and helped to mitigate widespread abuse of Zimbabweans illegally in the country by corrupt employers and officials.
Mahlabane said the department would continue to combat illegal migration, crime, fraud and corruption.
The announcement comes amid speculation that the permits would not be renewed, the Department of Home Affairs said.
The department said the permits will only be renewed after they had expired in December.
This brings end to speculation that some of the Zimbabwean's permits were coming to an end in November and that the department had intended not to renew the permits.
However, Home Affairs spokesperson David Hlabane said permit holders would have to re-apply after December when their current permits expired. More than 200000 Zimbabweans were issued with permits in the 2009 special dispensation process.
Hlabane said they had noted reports on the upcoming expiry of permits issued to Zimbabwean nationals under the special dispensation in 2009.
"This was to document those who were in South Africa illegally as a result of the political and socio-economic situation in their country. The permits will expire in about December this year," Hlabane said.
He said this was because the Cabinet had approved the approach on the expiry of permits issued under the special dispensation for Zimbabweans in terms of which permit holders will be expected to reapply for permits.
"As per the Cabinet's decision, the Minister of Home Affairs will in due course provide more clarity on the process to be followed and the date of commencement.
It is not South Africa's intention to reverse the benefits of the dispensation," Hlabane said.
The special dispensation allowed close to 250000 Zimbabwean nationals to be regularised through South Africa's permitting regime.
It also enhanced national security and the management of migration and helped to mitigate widespread abuse of Zimbabweans illegally in the country by corrupt employers and officials.
Mahlabane said the department would continue to combat illegal migration, crime, fraud and corruption.
Source - newage
