Pretoria – Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba says since the inception of the Zimbabwean Special Permits (ZSP), a total of 197 303 ZSP applications were adjudicated and a total of 185 075 were approved.
The special permits were introduced to allow Zimbabweans a three-year residency in South Africa.
Addressing the media in Pretoria earlier today, Minister Gigaba said the feedback from the Zimbabweans have been very positive with many confirming improved employment, business and social environment as well as the ease of financially transacting and receiving medical treatment and other services.
“The bulk of the remaining work is administrative, involving printing and dispatching of outstanding ZSP certificates to VFS, followed by clients’ collection of decision.
“The good news is that adjudication is almost complete, leaving us with only 0.3 percent to adjudicate,” Minister Gigaba said.
However, Minister Gigaba warned that those who failed to apply or who do not collect their documents could be deported.
According to the Minister, 30 September 2015 is the target for completion of outstanding tasks including collections.
The cut-of date for receiving ZSP applications was December 2014. The applications were received by VFS Global and adjudicated over by the department.
The Department has engaged VFS Global, as a partner, to receive the applications. VFS Global started receiving applications, online, on 1 October 2014.
The ZSP permits are valid until 31 December 2017.
Minister Gigaba explained that after the expiry date, from 1 January 2018, Zimbabweans would have to apply for a normal visa which is applicable in law.
“We have emerged out of the ZSP process even the more wiser, knowing what systems and processes work the better to curb corruption and violations of the permitting systems,” Minister Gigaba said.
According to Minister Gigaba, the department is reviewing rejected cases (12 228 applications) to ensure the integrity of the final decision on the rejection and to prevent unwarranted appeal applications.
The requirements for the new ZSP included a valid Zimbabwean passport; Proof of employment/proof of business registration/proof of registration from a learning institution and a DZP reference number that had to be used for lodging the ZSP application online.
The ZSP permits are collected from VFS centres from Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 17:00. Permits not collected on or before 30 September will be returned to the department. – SAnews.gov.za
