The Sunday News
Ndumiso Mlilo in Johannesburg
ZIMBABWEANS in South Africa will soon approach the South African government to ask for the extension of the time to apply for permits under the Zimbabwe Special Permits (ZSP).Zimbabwean organisations based in South Africa met on Thursday in Johannesburg and resolved to urgently approach Pretoria and ask for time to allow more Zimbabweans to apply for passports. The cut-off date to apply for special permits was on 31 December 2014 with 207 802 having applied. In 2010 about 245 000 successfully applied for permits but in 2014 about 37 198 were left out. Organisations representing Zimbabweans in South Africa argue that there are some factors which prevented them from applying for permits.
Mr Skhumbuzo Moyo from Zimbabwe Community in South Africa, said the use of online application worked against some who are not computer literate and some were not informed of the process. In an interview, Mr Moyo said: “We considered various factors and thought that we have to urgently approach the South African government to extend the date to apply for permits with about 30 days. Some people who were eligible to apply for permits but did not get their permits in 2010 and rejections were prevented by the system from applying. It was until December 15, 2014 that the system allowed them to apply online.”
Moyo stated that there were other issues which affected the smooth running of the process. The numbers to be called by Zimbabweans to book for appointments were overwhelmed by the large volumes of calls with some failing to get through. The company contracted by the South African government (VFS Global) experienced challenges since many Zimbabweans struggled to apply online. Moyo added: “This meeting has to be next week or in two weeks time depending on the availability of the Home Affairs officials. We will approach them and ask for a meeting and hope to get a favourable response. We have a good relationship with Home Affairs and have been working with them since 2010.”
He also said they would be presenting many grievances which include the freezing of bank accounts for Zimbabweans whose permits expired on 31 December 2014. Some of the Zimbabweans who returned home for the festive season were given about five days in South Africa while they wait for permits.
“We want them to speed up the processing of permits because our compatriots are facing various problems while waiting for the permits. Universities are refusing to enroll students demanding valid permits. We have various issues we want them to address,” said Mr Moyo.
He said various organisations would be compiling a list of those who did not manage to apply for various reasons to present to Home Affairs. He was quick to point out that the Home Affairs had the list of those who did not apply. A Durban-based Zimbabwean, Willard Mbiba Siyabuyela told of the inconvenience caused by the freezing on his bank account in December 2014. He said, “the last festive season was the worst because I had no money after my account was frozen by the First National Bank. I had saved more than R20 000 intending to use it in December. Now I am struggling to survive. I also wanted to buy a laptop to use for work and had to hire another one. I have now asked for the company I work for to give me cash to survive.” Mbiba said attempts to negotiate with the bank had failed after he produced his proof of application and appointment and the bank was not convinced. He said the bank insisted that he produce a valid permit.
Women’s Institute for Migration Affairs (Sawima) director, Ms Joyce Dube also said they were hoping to meet the Home Affairs officials soon. Ms Dube said she was happy that various organisations had agreed to continue working together to assist fellow Zimbabweans in South Africa.
Mr Ngqabutho Dube from the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa stated that the reduction in the number of those who applied for permits in 2010 could have been due to the fact that some people had since returned to Zimbabwe. He also said: “Some of those who did not apply are working in farms and their employers did not help them to apply while some who got permits returned to Zimbabwe. We want to review the process and ask — were all those who were intended apply or not and why? Did the process run smooth?”
The South African government said all those who applied in 2010 including those who were rejected, about 295 000 were eligible to apply in 2014. The Zimbabwean government and the organisations in South Africa successfully negotiated for the issuing of special permits in 2010 and renewal in 2014.
