News / Africa
SA Home Affairs Unable To Keep To Deadline In Documenting Zimbabweans
17 Dec 2010 at 14:53hrs | Views
The Home Affairs department has announced that it will not be able to complete the documentation of Zimbabweans living in South Africa before the December 31st deadline.
Addressing the media in Pretoria on Tuesday, Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said although the deadline will not be extended, deportation can only start once all pending applications have been processed.
The processing of pending applications will therefore continue after the December 31st, but the Department will not accept new applications after the deadline.
"An extension is not going to happen actually, we will not extend the deadline. Among other challenges, is the early closure of Home Affairs offices in Zimbabwe."
SABC news reports that according to Home Affairs Minister, the South African Police and the Zimbabwean governments are stalling the process.
"The Zimbabweans are not able to produce passports at the rate that will allow everybody who has applied for it to have it before the 31st. The verification with the police taking the fingerprints, checking records takes time."
South African Home affairs managers will now only go on leave after the 31st and the department will arrange with police to manage queues and avoid stampedes.
The Minister could not confirm when deportation of undocumented Zimbabweans will start.
Addressing the media in Pretoria on Tuesday, Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said although the deadline will not be extended, deportation can only start once all pending applications have been processed.
The processing of pending applications will therefore continue after the December 31st, but the Department will not accept new applications after the deadline.
"An extension is not going to happen actually, we will not extend the deadline. Among other challenges, is the early closure of Home Affairs offices in Zimbabwe."
SABC news reports that according to Home Affairs Minister, the South African Police and the Zimbabwean governments are stalling the process.
"The Zimbabweans are not able to produce passports at the rate that will allow everybody who has applied for it to have it before the 31st. The verification with the police taking the fingerprints, checking records takes time."
South African Home affairs managers will now only go on leave after the 31st and the department will arrange with police to manage queues and avoid stampedes.
The Minister could not confirm when deportation of undocumented Zimbabweans will start.
Source - Newstime
