Uprooted Zimbabweans may soon be forced to leave SA

Source: Times Live, 20/06/2017

Zimbabweans who came to South Africa after the economic collapse of
2008 are facing the threat of having to uproot themselves once more as
their visas expire.

Stan Passoh and his wife Hamu left Zimbabwe with a car a few hundred
dollars a one-year-old child and his three-year-old sister in 2008 as
the countries economy collapsed.


Now living in Cape Town they have jobs a small business and their two
children attend middle class Cape Town primary schools. But their
seven-year visas are to expire soon so they may be forced to start
their lives again.


The Passohs started life in South Africa with four other families in a
crowded house in Delft in the Western Cape.


They wanted their children to have a childhood similar to theirs with
good education and three meals a day something unattainable in
Zimbabwe. Passoh worked as a cab driver for four years before starting
a junk removal business that employs two South Africans. His wife
worked as sales person at a local gym where she is now employed in
management.


But now as their special dispensation visas expire in December after
seven years of living legally in South Africa and working they have to
return home.The visas allowed Zimbabweans many who were already in
South Africa to come forward and legalize their status if they were
working or studying here. They were four year-long visas extendable
for another three years.


Leon Isaacs on Global Migration SA managing director said there are an
estimated 200000 Zimbabweans on these Special Dispensation visas that
expire after seven years in December.


It means these working tax-paying individuals have to uproot their
families leave their home and return to a country with few jobs or
opportunities. The Zimbabweans cannot apply for permanent residency as
a condition of the visa. They have to return to Zimbabwe to apply for
a new visa.


There is "nothing" in Zimbabwe said Passoh who sold his printing
business before coming to South Africa.


He said returning to Zimbabwe to apply for a new visa to remain in
South Africa could take months and will mean they will lose their jobs
in South Africa.


About 200 other Zimbabweans and companies they work for are joining
Isaacs on in a special action to try to get a special exemption from
Home Affairs Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize to stay in the country
permanently.


Isaacs on said: They are all productive and economically active
members of South African society and do not see a future for
themselves in Zimbabwe as their families and friends have kept them
informed of the situation there.


This is a private and individual application initiative which will
request specific terms including permanent residence as people are
tired of living transitory lives. These applicants are all
economically active often employing South Africans and law abiding
members of South African society. After seven years on short term
special permits they have shown that they can contribute to the
country.


He called Zimbabweans to come forward and join the action.
But this special application is proving difficult as their access to
the minister has been blocked.


But Isaacs company approached the visa service VFS to ask about
applying for an exemption to allow them to apply for permanent
residency.


They were told it is not possible in a letter seen by The
Times.


Isaacs on said VFS is a service provider and it does not have
authority to speak on behalf of the minister and block special
exemption applications.


Home Affairs said VFS was just doing its job. Ministers spokesperson
Mpume Madlala said: The ZSP special dispensation permit is issued with
clear conditions like (1) it does not lead to permanent residence (2)
no change of conditions while in RSA. The Zimbabweans are fully aware
of these conditions because they are stated on the ZSP permit itself
and they cannot blame VFS for implementing the conditions as
stipulated on their ZSP conditions.


The impasse has left has left the 200 Zimbabweans who are part of
Isaacs on action unable to approach the minister for an
exemption.


The Zimbabweans action is now in limbo but Isaacs on intends to find a
way to make an application to the minister to ask her to allow
Zimbabweans who have been working and living here for seven years to
stay.


The application is not yet a court action but Isaacs on could turn to
the courts if unsuccessful.


VFS referred all queries to the Department of Home Affairs.
-TimesLIVE