News / Africa
Zimbabweans in SA to start renewing their permits next week
26 Sep 2014 at 02:11hrs | Views
PRETORIA - Zimbabweans working in South Africa can begin renewing their special work permits next week, South Africa Home Affairs minister Malusi Gigaba said yesterday.
Gigaba said the upcoming documentation of Zimbabweans would not be characterized by chaos, as happened in 2010. He said the South African government would invite applicants for interviews so that the process is free from corruption adding that the applications would cost R870.
Zimbabwe experienced a mass exodus of citizens following land seizures and the disputed 2008 elections in which President Robert Mugabe retained office. The economy was plunged into recession characterized by hyperinflation.
"In August I announced the establishment of the Zimbabwean Special Permit (ZSP) of 2014, allowing Zimbabwean holders of this special permit to work, conduct business or study in South Africa for three years, until the end of December 2017," he was quoted by Sapa.
"Only the approximately 245 000 holders of the Dispensation for Zimbabweans Project (DZP) are eligible to apply for the ZSP."
Applications for the ZSP could be lodged from October 1 on the website www.vfsglobal.com/zsp/southafrica.
In June, Gigaba announced that VFS Global, a world-wide outsourcing and technology services specialist for diplomatic missions and governments, had been appointed to manage visa and permit applications in South Africa.
Yesterday he said the company was ready to process Zimbabwean immigrants.
Application centres will include Midrand, Gauteng, Cape Town, Western Cape, Polokwane, Limpopo and Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The remaining six centres are in George, Port Elizabeth, Kimberley, Bloemfontein, Nelspruit, and Rustenburg.
Gigaba said the upcoming documentation of Zimbabweans would not be characterized by chaos, as happened in 2010. He said the South African government would invite applicants for interviews so that the process is free from corruption adding that the applications would cost R870.
Zimbabwe experienced a mass exodus of citizens following land seizures and the disputed 2008 elections in which President Robert Mugabe retained office. The economy was plunged into recession characterized by hyperinflation.
"In August I announced the establishment of the Zimbabwean Special Permit (ZSP) of 2014, allowing Zimbabwean holders of this special permit to work, conduct business or study in South Africa for three years, until the end of December 2017," he was quoted by Sapa.
Applications for the ZSP could be lodged from October 1 on the website www.vfsglobal.com/zsp/southafrica.
In June, Gigaba announced that VFS Global, a world-wide outsourcing and technology services specialist for diplomatic missions and governments, had been appointed to manage visa and permit applications in South Africa.
Yesterday he said the company was ready to process Zimbabwean immigrants.
Application centres will include Midrand, Gauteng, Cape Town, Western Cape, Polokwane, Limpopo and Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The remaining six centres are in George, Port Elizabeth, Kimberley, Bloemfontein, Nelspruit, and Rustenburg.
Source - Sapa
