Decision on South African permits expected in August

Source: SW Radio Africa, 15/07/2015

On Monday South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba caused
anxiety among immigrants when he said the South African government
would not budge on its new immigration laws but would only `deal` with
the problems raised in the implementation of those requirements. Three
weeks ago Gigaba also said if the 250,000 permit holders` stay was to
be extended they would apply for citizenship and that could cause
`shock to the system and government.`
But 24 hours after causing panic Gigaba has said he will announce a
decision in August on the permits held by Zimbabweans under the
special dispensation programme.
Gigaba made the announcement on Tuesday during a parliamentary
discussion on the budget in Cape Town. His comments came as
beneficiaries of the 2010 dispensation programme are still waiting to
hear if they will have to return to Zimbabwe to apply for an
extension, as once proposed, or whether they can do that from within
South Africa.
As some of the permits have begun to expire fears have been growing
that Pretoria may not renew them and compel Zimbabweans to return.
While the Home Affairs department has repeatedly assured permit
holders to `stay calm`, fear is growing over the reasons for the delay.
There are concerns that the proposed requirement for permit holders to
return to their home country to apply is a trap meant to lure people
back into Zimbabwe from where they will be denied the right to return
to South Africa on calculated technicalities.
But on Tuesday Gigaba said they were in the `final stages of
deliberations` on the issue adding that he was `mindful of the anxiety
among Zimbabwean permit holders.` He said future policies will
concentrate on how to deal with economic migrants, many of whom have
tended to pose as asylum seekers.`
Zimbabwe Community in South Africa chairperson, Ngqabutho Mabhena,
said if Pretoria was to force people to apply from Zimbabwe many would
be denied permission to return.
Mabhena said his organization will continue to negotiate with the
government until a decision was made. He said they were already
lobbying various organizations like the ANC, COSATU and the churches
on the issue. Speaking on SW Radio Africa`s Diaspora Diaries, Mabhena
said feedback would be given to members on July 26th in a public
meeting at Hillbrow Theater in Johannesburg.