SA govt still has no idea how many Zimbabweans are in the country illegally

MORE than 130,000 undocumented immigrants in South Africa have benefited from special dispensation for Zimbabwean nationals, but SA government still has no idea how many Zimbabweans are in the country illegally, Soweatan reported on Wednesday.

This could set at least four million Zimbabweans who are said to be in SA illegally at the risk of deportation.

Mkuseli Apleni, the director-general of the Department of Home Affairs, told the home affairs portfolio committee that 134,369 Zimbabweans who had been in the country without proper documentation had been issued with work, business and study permits since the introduction of the special dispensation in 2009.

Apleni said since then, a total of 275,762 immigrants from Zimbabwe had applied for proper documentation required for them to continue staying in South Africa. He said while 134,369 permit applications had been issued, 141,393 were at a pre-adjudication as further information from applicants had been outstanding, while 6,243 people had applied for amnesty.

Apleni and his other senior officials told MPs that the Home Affairs Department still had no idea how many Zimbabweans were in South Africa illegally. "We do not know how many Zimbabweans did not apply and we do not have that record."

He warned that illegal immigrants who failed to take advantage of the special dispensation could be deported.

"To those people who chose not to apply, you have to apply, but not only Zimbabweans - any national who is in our country illegally," Apleni said.