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Migrant organizations lambasts SA govt over handling of ZSDP permits

Source: Stephen Jakes – Bulawayo News, 06/09/2015

Migrant organisations have lambasted the government for its handling
of the application process of the Zimbabwean Special Dispensation
permits.

THis came at a time when hundreds of Zimbabwean immigrants were on
Friday seen wait to be deported from the Lindela Repatriation Centre
outside Johannesburg.

Zimbabwe Permits Assist organisation said Zimbabweans in South Africa
have until September 30 to collect their documents from the Visa and
Permit Facilitation Centres across all nine provinces. "Failure to do
so will result in the permits being sent back to the department," said
ZPA.

"Home Affairs said 26 986 permits of the 198 032 applications
processed had yet to be collected. It said 6.2 percent of applications
had been rejected. But human rights lawyers are challenging this
figure."

The organisation said there were people whose applications were
rejected but they were never given reasons why.

"Over and above this they were never informed of their right to appeal
the decision," said ZPA.

"This does not comply with regulations in the Immigration Act. Worse
is that the appeal date is within 10 days and this has long passed,"
said Human Rights lawyer David Cote.

Chairperson of the African Diaspora Forum Marc Gbaffou urged those who
failed to renew their permits to report to them as they would be
making a special request to Home Affairs for amnesty."

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If you are visiting SA or already here on a visa, take this as a public-interest warning. In 2025, a quiet, but sharp, shift has taken hold inside parts of home affairs adjudication ranks: applications are being refused almost mechanically if they were not submitted at least 60 days before visa expiry.A wave of refusals repeating near-identical wording:The applicant did not submit his/her application no less than 60 days prior to the expiry date of his/her.

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