SA's Zimbabwe special permits process hits snag

THE processing of new special permits for Zimbabweans wishing to work or study in South Africa started yesterday but was bogged down by technical glitches on that country's Visa Facilities Service (VFS) centre website.

The Zimbabwean Special Permit (ZSP) of 2014 allows Zimbabweans to work, conduct business or study in South Africa for three years, until the end of December 2017.

Applicants are required to first complete an online application form and then book for an appointment date for submission of all documents through a call centre (+27) 087 825 0675.

One also needs to pay an application fee of R870 and the application is done via the website http://www.vfsglobal.com/zsp/southafrica.

All applicants, according to new regulations, must possess a valid Zimbabwean passport, evidence of employment (confirmation letter of employment and a sworn affidavit from employer), business or accredited study, and must have a clean criminal record.

In separate telephone interviews, many holders of the previous Dispensation for Zimbabweans Project (DZP) permits said the VFS website was constantly down and they were finding it difficult to complete all the initial online processes.

"I have tried to lodge my application online since morning without success because the website is constantly down," said one applicant who preferred anonymity.

A representative of one of the independent agencies that assist Zimbabweans with South African applications, Ray Mafunga, said the process was cumbersome.

"The online system is not working properly; basically we assist all those who need to make the applications online. You will note that the website is not consistent and also the call centre number they have posted on the website is not going through," he said.

Mafunga urged the VFS to look into the issue as a matter of urgency.

He said there is a need for the South African government to review some of the requirements for one to get the special permit.

"It will be difficult for most people to get sworn affidavit statements from employers which is one of the requirements for the permits," said Mafunga.

"Further they (Home Affairs) have not come out clearly on the issue of those with new passports but were holders of the DZP permits. For instance one might have a filled-up or expired passport with a DZP and yet the Department of Home Affairs is not clear on how people should make new applications in that respect."

South Africa's Home Affairs minister, Malusi Gigaba, announced on Thursday last week that approximately 245,000 holders of the DZP were eligible to apply for the ZSP.

He said they had 120 dedicated officers to deal with the ZSP adjudication.

They have also opened 10 ZSP application centres in the provinces of Gauteng (Midrand), Western Cape (Cape Town), Limpopo (Polokwane) and KwaZulu-Natal (Durban).

Other centres are in George, Port Elizabeth, Kimberley, Bloemfontein, Nelspruit and Rustenburg.

South Africa's Home Affairs Director General, Mkuseli Apleni and his deputy director responsible for immigration services, Jackie MacKay's mobile phones rang unanswered yesterday.