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Will the Zimbabwe Special Permit be renewed?

Source: Groundup, 09/06/2017

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has told holders of the
Zimbabwean Special Permit (ZSP) not to panic, but to await the
decision by the department on the extension of their permits, due to
expire on 31 December 2017.

This comes amid growing concern among Zimbabweans and civil society
organisations such as the Scalabrini Centre and PASSOP (People Against
Suffering Oppression Poverty).

â€œWe believe that it is important for the DHA to give clear
instructions to the over 200,000 people concerned. A renewal process
can take several months to prepare for and complete, and those on the
ZSP should be given at least six months to understand clearly what
their options are and to make plans accordingly,â€ said Mirande
Madikane, director of the Scalabrini Centre in Cape Town.

On Monday (5 June), the Scalabrini advocacy team sent a letter to both
the Minister and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs requesting the
department to issue a clear statement on the renewal of the ZSP.
Tendai Bhiza of PASSOP agreed. â€œI think ZSP holders should be fairly
and equally treated. PASSOP is appealing to the department to consider
the [ZSP] holders for a permanent residence as a long term solution,â€
said Bhiza.

Spokesperson for the Department, Thabo Mokgola, said, â€œHome Affairs
will be making an announcement on the ZSP in due course. Currently,
there is a cabinet process underway on the matter.â€

However, when asked in December last year, Mokgola told GroundUp the
Minister had made it clear that there would not be an extension on ZSP.
The Zimbabwe Special Permit is the successor of the Dispensation of
Zimbabweans Project implemented in 2010 allowing Zimbabweans to stay,
work and study in South Africa.

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