JOHANNESBURG - THE move to withdraw special dispensation for Zimbabwean nationals by South Africa has been widely received with anger and outcry from millions of Zimbabweans who work and do business in Mzansi.Several Zimbabweans interviewed by CAJ News on Saturday said the withdrawal of the special visa dispensation was “untimely” and “wicked” arguing that it would hurt individuals politically and economically.
Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced on Thursday that her country was now tightening entry conditions for Zimbabweans coming to work study and travel in South Africa citing stability that has returned north of the Limpopo.
But hordes of Zimbabweans at Park Station yesterday pleaded with the SA government; in particular President Jacob Zuma not to allow such a thing to happen now saying the economy was still “bad”.
“South Africans must be patient with us because the power sharing in Zimbabwe is not yet 100 percent functional.
“If South Africa withdraws this special visa dispensation, honestly, Zimbabweans would continue experiencing serious economic and political problems,” said Yulleta Gonese, a mother of two, who survives through selling perishables at Park Station.
Greet Tenga, who works at the cross-border buses said: “If indeed South Africa is going to withdraw the special visa dispensation, then we will leave in the country without passports or asylum seekers.
“Surely, where can we go right now when Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe is still unwilling to make a new democratic constitution to enable free and fair elections,” said Tenga.
Sarah Mawaka, who sells music tapes, DVDs and Compact Disc (CDs) in Braamfontein says she would not leave South Africa saying there was no justification for SA to withdraw the special dispenation.
“I think we should continue to live the way we have been doing, I mean hide and seek when police and Home Affairs are looking after us.
“President Zuma, who is the SADC mediator knows the truth that the political situation in Zimbabwe is still not conducive,” said Mawaka.
THE Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) Executive Director, Gabriel Shumba, said the SA’s post-cabinet to commence deporting Zimbabweans after the 31st of December citing a special dispensation put in place for them would cease to operate was bad news.
Shumba argued that under the special dispensation, Zimbabweans could enter South Africa and work for a total of 3 months before renewing their temporary permits.
He said the decision by the South African Cabinet was callous, arbitrary and in violation of the Bilateral Agreement between South Africa and Zimbabwe that was announced with so much pomp and fan-fare.
“We could be excused to think that the so-called deal was a scheme designed to hoodwink us as to the real purpose of it: to obtain cheap labour from Zimbabwe before the World Cup.
“More poignant is the fact that the resumption of deportations is announced before any adequate measures are put in place to ensure that the asylum seeking process has been made more accessible, and before the Special Permit has been put in place.
“This can only mean that corrupt police and immigration officials as well as those who arrest to meet the supply needs of Lindela are back in business, especially as Zimbabwe faces another election, said Shumba.
He also condemned the announcement as ill-timed because of its implications for xenophobia.
ZEF believes that the withdrawal of the special dispensation for Zimbabweans should have been taken after consultation with the Zimbabwean Government as well as civil society in and outside Zimbabwe.
However, Dlamini-Zuma said the withdrawal of the dispensation meant that Zimbabweans would need to apply for proper documents from their country, which would then be up for approval in South Africa.
I think its important that we know whos here and what people are doing. The Zimbabweans have assured us that they will make sure everyone is documented who needs to be, said Dlamini-Zuma.
Chairman of People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty, Braam Hanekom, said the possibility of deporting thousands of Zimbabwean nationals without documentation will likely lead to an outbreak of xenophobic violence.
We believe that the large number of deportations and the proceeding witch-hunt of foreign nationals by the National Immigration Branch and South African Police were a major factor in creating the conditions that lead to the culture of xenophobia that haunts us today, said Hanekom.
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