South African Immigration Chief Assures Zimbabweans over New Visa Rules

South Africa’s Immigration Director Apleni Mkuseni has sought to calm Zimbabwean migrants in the country regarding the new visa rules that were introduced in late May. Mkuseni has urged them to be patient and avoid panicking as the South African government deliberates on their status. 

More than 250,000 migrants from Zimbabweans stand the risk of losing their jobs in South Africa upon the expiry of their special permits in December 2014. There are also fears of mass deportations if no consensus is reached with the Department of Home Affairs regarding the fate of these Zimbabweans. 

The permits — mainly for study and work purposes — were granted under the Special Dispensation period in 2010 in which Zimbabweans working illegally in South Africa were given a chance to regularise their stay in the country. This was in the aftermath of the political upheavals in Zimbabwe, which saw over two million people flee to the neighbouring South Africa. Upon the expiry of the permits, those affected can apply for renewal but would have to do so from Zimbabwe. 

Fears have heightened after Zimbabwean Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi stated that the government could only offer permits to foreigners who seek to work in Zimbabwe. “As far as I am concerned, Zimbabweans who wish to work in South Africa cannot apply for permits in Zimbabwe. They must do so in South Africa,” he explained. 

Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa queuing to process their paperwork for residency (Image Credit: www.nehandaradio.com)

However, Braam Hanekom, the Director of People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty (PASSOP), expressed optimism that deliberations with the South African government would bear fruit. “We plan to engage the government to understand the details as well as the logistics. We will see if there is an alternative way for those affected to renew their permits by not returning to Zimbabwe,” he assured. PASSOP is a human rights NGO that fights for the rights of asylum seekers, immigrants and refugees in South Africa. 

According to Prof. Loren B. Landau, Director of the African Centre for Migration and Society (ACMS), Zimbabweans constitute the largest single group of foreigners in South Africa whereas there are significant portions of Basotho and Mozambicans. He, however, concedes that the data obtained from various sources is often unreliable adding that there are no precise figures for the number of Zimbabwean nationals in the country. 

On the other hand, a report in 2012 titled Documented Immigrants in South Africa, by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) reveals that over 24,000 Zimbabweans were issued with temporary residency permits by the Department of Home Affairs in 2012. Only 251 Zimbabwe nationals applied for permanent residency in South Africa, which were processed by the same department. 

One of the changes to the visa rules is that of the Life Partner and Spouse visas, which decree that couples seeking a permanent or temporary residency permit will have to attend an interview concurrently — at the same time and date to establish the authenticity of their relationship. The application period for people who want to change their visa status while still in South Africa has also been extended from 30 to 60 days, which would negatively prolong the approval process. 

It will also be impossible for foreigners in possession of a visitor’s visa to apply for temporary residence permit while in South Africa. They would have to leave the country and apply for the permit from their country of origin. Those whose visas have expired and choose to overstay may be banned by being labelled as undesirable persons for minimum and maximum periods of 1 and 5 years respectively.