Zimbabweans given a reprieve

Source: Times Live, 11/10/0201

The Zimbabwean Special Permits will be replaced by the Zimbabwean
Exemption Permit.

Zimbabweans whose permits are to expire by the end of the year have
been given a reprieve and more time to get new permits.
There are roughly 197‚000 Zimbabweans‚ whose Special Dispensation
Permit expires at the end of the year. They are now applying for new
four-year visas called the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit and had until the
end of November to present themselves in person for fingerprints to be
taken.
Now the Department of Home Affairs has given them until the end of
January to go to a Visa Facilitation Services ( VFS) office to hand in
documents.
All Zimbabweans need to apply online for an appointment by month end‚
however.
VFS which is processing the Zimbabweans has seen about 72‚600 people
countrywide.
There are about another 100‚000 appointments‚ booked but yet to be
completed.
TimesLIVE reported on Monday it was not clear if the 100‚000
Zimbabweans would be able to be seen by month end.
Many people have been queuing for hours in the sun waiting for
appointments with one man telling TimesLIVE last week that they were
treated like `dogs`.
The temporary VFS office in Midrand is the only facility able to
process Zimbabweans in Gauteng. It has been seeing more than 1‚800
people a day. It told TimesLIVE it had almost 100 staff at the offices.
On Thursday‚ Zimbabwean Tendai Chikanga‚ queued for hours at the VFS
Midrand centre for his 5pm appointment. He and people who had 3pm
appointments were told at 7.45pm to leave as VFS Midrand could not see
everyone as their computer systems had gone offline.
Chikanga was told to return in the next two weeks.
He said people with children and pregnant women had to wait for a long
time in the sun.
Home Affairs Director General Mkuseli Apleni has now extended the
appointment time until the end of January.
He said he was thankful to VFS for staying open up until ten at night
to accommodate Zimbabweans.
Apleni said: `We want to ensure that people aren`t subjected to
spending hours in a queue`.
Zimbabweans who want to go home for Christmas can do so on an expired
ZSP permit‚ as long as they have receipt showing they have applied for
the new exemption permit.
Apleni said: `these ZEP permits are not long permanent‚ but with a
view to having people return to their countries to build their lives
anew.`
Chikanga was pleased that there had been an extension for
appointments: `That’s actually a good thing. I am sure they will
finish [issuing] all the permits.`
The chance to book an appointment online ends this month.