Minister Gigaba satisfied with Zim permit process

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Pretoria - Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba says he is satisfied with the manner in which the Zimbabwean Special Permit (ZSP) process is unfolding.

“We are quite satisfied with the manner in which the process has been going thus far and want to emphasise once more the importance of us to try to the best extent possible to regularise the stay of foreign nationals in the country to know who they are, where they live and what do they do for the better purposes of national planning,” said the Minister on Tuesday.

The Minister paid a visit to the ZSP centre in Midrand.

Giving an update on the ZSP, Minister Gigaba said the Zimbabwean application process closed officially on 31 December 2014, the day that also marked the expiry of the old Dispensation for Zimbabweans Project, including permits whose expiry dates were beyond 31 December 2014.

“Regarding the breakdown of applications, we wish to announce that as of 13 March 2015, 208 967 applications were submitted online to VFS Global,” said Minister Gigaba.

This is after the Department of Home Affairs had announced the introduction of this new special permit on 12 August 2014 for DZP permit-holders, who wished to remain in South Africa after the expiry of their old permits.

The Department introduced the new Zimbabwean special permit to document Zimbabwean nationals whose stay in South Africa was normalized through the permits issued, from 2010, in terms of the old Dispensation for Zimbabweans Project (DZP).

The department has engaged VFS Global, as a partner, to receive the applications. VFS Global started receiving applications online on 1 October 2014.

Minister Gigaba said 206 939 applicants booked appointments with VFS for interviews, while 2 028 applicants have not booked appointments with VFS.

Those who have not booked their appointments have until 31 March 2015 to do so, which is the closing date. Minister Gigaba said this deadline will not be extended.

Fifty percent of 162 256 applications that have been done at VFS have been adjudicated by Home Affairs. “We have adjudicated 83 009 applications to be exact,” said Minister Gigaba.

The Minister said it is anticipated that the adjudication and handing out of outcomes will be finalised by the end of August 2015.

The ZSP will allow permit-holders to live, work, conduct business, study and financially transact in South Africa for the duration of the permit, which will be valid until 31 December 2017.

Minister Gigaba also handed out several permits to Zimbabweans who had completed their processes. - SAnews.gov.za