Under the dispensation, thousands of Zimbabweans were documented by SA, thereby becoming legal immigrants. These included both political and economic refugees, the bulk of which never had passports. Many more were not assessed for various reasons, including lack of money to go to refugee centres. This left SA with many undocumented Zimbabweans.
The sudden cancellation of a system that had produced a huge database of finger printed Zimbabweans, is beyond comprehension. It will only increase the number of undocumented so called illegal immigrants as those who had already been legalised suddenly become illegalised. The suggestion that the special dispensation will be replaced by special permits given only to passport holders is not workable either, considering that the time for its full implementation runs from now up to 31 December, 2010.
Most Zimbos came to SA without passports because it was then difficult to get one and it is still equally difficult today. Besides the passport being too expensive and out of reach of many, it will be equally difficult for political refugees to walk back to the lion’s den to apply for passports. That would be worse than being forced to commit suicide.
The suggestion that the Zimbabwean Embassy will process the passports is equally impracticable. Home Affairs in Zimbabwe is failing to satisfy demand. How can an embassy in another country manage?
In May 2009 thousands of Zimbabweans were swindled by a near scam involving failed emergency travel documents (etds) which were rejected by the SA authorities despite being issued by the august embassy. At the time of applications, the applicants were charged R500 each and promised that after 6 months they would get passports from the embassy. The promise was reiterated by Co-Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi in an interview with Studio 7 and further quoted in ***The Zimbabwean***. But its now almost one and a half years later, the etds are not accepted, the passports were not issued and the applicants were not refunded.
May the SA authorities please reconsider their stance, considering that 2011 is a prospective blood-letting year, if ever it is going to be an election year.
Illegalised immigrant South Africa
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