Pretoria — Undocumented Zimbabwean nationals living in South Africa will no longer receive special treatment following Cabinet's decision to withdraw the special dispensation policy for Zimbabweans.
Currently, officials are prevented from deporting or arresting undocumented Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa irrespective of their legal status.
Government spokesperson Themba Maseko, however, told a media briefing on Thursday that the special dispensation, introduced in April last year, will end on 31 December and all Zimbabweans living in South Africa after that date will be treated like any other foreign nationals.
"The decision seeks to ensure that all foreign nationals who reside in South Africa are documented and their presence is regularised. After the 31 of December all undocumented Zimbabweans will be treated like all others and their deportation will resume," Maseko said.
This decision follows a bilateral agreement between the Ministers of Home Affairs from South Africa and Zimbabwe.
He said Zimbabwean nationals who are working, conducting business or studying in South Africa will be issued with permits provided they have valid Zimbabwean documents.
There will further be an amnesty for the Zimbabweans who may have obtained South African identification documents fraudulently on condition that such documents are returned to the Home Affairs Department.
Maseko said the two governments will establish a joint "monitoring and evaluation" committee that would see the effective implementation of the process.
The issuing of the various permits will commence between now and 31 December and the deportation of undocumented Zimbabweans will resume after this date. A similar process will be initiated for nationals from other neighbouring countries in the future.
Comments 1 to 5 of 7 Post a comment
hi ! I am a south african, lived amongst zimbabwean refugees. had deep feelings for them, but, majority of them are thugs. south africans can not take the influx of thugs into the country any more. south africans citizens have rights, these people have to go back to their country and solve their own problems. they bring deceases, witcraft, they steal, kill, steal work.
Were we such when we were giving ANC/PAC and others refuge. Your cadres did not live in filthy backyard shacks. Nor did they live in gvt camps. They lived in our houses. We gave up rooms and beds for them. Zimbabwe's problems are not "our" problems but Africa's problem. South Africa has its share of thugs and thieves like any other nation on earth. Do you ever ask yourself what it is that causes brothers and sisters to turn into thieves.
Enough of this emotional blackmail!!! "We used to help them during apartheid and house themetc, etc" This is just an exaggerated argument considering that South Africans never went into exile to other countries in busloads and trainloads as is the case with those coming into SA now especially those who are illegal. And even then those "few" South Africans who did, were all legal in those host countries. Stop passing the blame on South Africans but to the source of the problem- the root cause i.e. leaders and governments of the countries where these people are coming from who are failing to govern their countries. The buck stops at their door-steps. Actually people from these countries have become so brainwashed they fail to see their leaders as the main culprits in this whole equation.If these leaders were gorvening their countries properly, life would be bearable for their citizens and these people would not be running away helter skelter to either South Africa or these over rated western countries. Honestly we cannot expect South Africa to harbour the whole of Africa. They can only take so much!!!! That's expecting too much from another country whose resources are also limited. Right now South Africans are sacrificing their salaries by taking on their government in this strike. People should do the same in their countries, and desist from running away from their problems but rather confronti their leaders head-on like South Africans and stop blaming South Africans!!!!
This is a tough subject, because I too have my relatives in SA. As a Zimbabwean there is some truth that we have failed to confront or endure or contend with our problems. Some of the people who left Zimbabwe to SA where actually big bennefactors from Mugabe and Zanu-pf. Why they left Zimbabwe beats the hell out of me.
We Zimbabweans we claim Zimbabwe is a beautiful country (and it is), but we are not prepared to build it and improve it! I notice everybody wants an overseas experience and most do not come but!
Exactly Gore, so very true, the South Africans shoud help as much as possible, Instead of the dilly dallying in the ANC, they should be helping to resolve the GPA issues and if neccesary, send a task force in to monitor that elections and law are being adhered to. The people of Zimbabwe are feeling very trapped. We are told Zimbabweans are taking South African Jobs, well did the South Africans go for the inteview or are they expecting everything to land on their plates? So sorry to tell a few of the deluded south of the border, let the better person have the Job. Zimbos work very hard and a lot of the South AFrican bussinesses see this to be true. If a south african wants a job in Zim, well fair do, apply and if they are the right person for the job then it's theirs.When south africa neede help they got it, now when it's the other way round, why are certain sectors dragging their heels?
See All Comments