JOHANNESBURG - The South African government says that over 150 000 applications from Zimbabweans are still being finalised and will be dispatched before the end of July.Home Affairs Director-general, Mkhuseli Apleni, told the media that 43 regional offices set up by his department had managed to successfully clear a backlog of over 50 000 permit applications, but these did not include special dispensation permit applications introduced last year.
The applications opened on September 15 2010 and closed on January 31 this year. Apleni said his department has, in consultation with the Zimbabwean government, agreed to finalise this process by July 31 2011.
We are pleased to report that the department has, to date crossed a major milestone in our adjudication framework by finalising 119 009 applications from Zimbabwean nationals, said Apleni.
A further 156 753 applications remain to be adjudicated, for which the Department requires 53 working days at the rate of 3 000 per day.
He added that a system of text messaging would be implemented from April 4 to inform applicants who need to come in for fingerprinting, those still requiring passports from the Zimbabwean Consulate and those who need to submit supporting documents for each of the three types of permits namely business, study and work.
We are currently in the process of validating and finally confirming amnesty applications, which amount to 6 243. We appeal to nationals to respond timeously to sms requests to provide further information to enable us to finalise their applications. he added.
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