South Africa: Chaos as Zim Special Permits Deadline Ends
31 December 2014
Spread the love

RadioDialogue|Zimbabweans working and studying in South Africa have until today (Wednesday) to apply for special Zimbabwe Dispensation  permits to remain in that country.

South African media reported that Zimbabweans living in that country have called on the South African government to put more application centres across the country to enable them to apply for the permits, that will allow them to stay in South Africa for another three years, before deadline day.

Some of the Zimbabweans who spoke to South African media houses suggested the Home Affairs Department should have deployed more personnel and placed them at certain places to help with their applications.

Others felt the South African government could have opted to put up internet cafes to allow them to easily access and carry out the application process online.

The online application process can be accessed here: http://www.vfsglobal.com/zsp/southafrica/

Already, some Zimbabweans who came back home to celebrate the Christmas holidays with their families have started trickling back to South Africa fearing the looming Wednesday deadline.

However, earlier the South African Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba, said Zimbabweans who are holders of the permit should be able to go home, and return to South Africa next year without fear of being penalised or declared “undesirable.”

In August, the South African government announced a new permit regime for Zimbabweans resident in that country.

Over 250000 Zimbabweans were granted five year permits under the special dispensation exercise.

The permits were set to expire at the end of this year with South African authorities initially indicating that the permits will not be renewed.

The Department of Home Affairs is expecting more than 245 000 people to apply for the special permits.

Gigaba then said he was happy with the number of applications that have come in so far and advised people not to panic. – RadioDialogue

2 Replies to “South Africa: Chaos as Zim Special Permits Deadline Ends”

  1. how do we expect our citizens to be granted permits elsewhere in the world when our Immigration department doesnt give other people permits is that not hypocrisy?

  2. This is a nightmare, the sooner Zimbabwe can get its own house in order the sooner we can hope to see it all finally end.

Comments are closed.