Dlamini Zuma said all the 275 762 applications received at the end of the application programme on December 31, 2010 had been adjudicated and her department was in the process of issuing outstanding permits.
“The department has met its own internal deadline of adjudicating the applications for work, study and business permits from undocumented Zimbabwean nationals,” said Dlamini Zuma. She said the government was grateful to those who took advantage of the offer to legalise their stay.
She also praised those who applied for amnesty by returning fraudulently acquired South African documents to the department.
“The success of the adjudication process, has been largely due to the co-operation the department has received from Zimbabweans living in South Africa in general and the South Africa-Zimbabwean Stakeholder Forum in particular,” said Dlamini Zuma.
“The department still faces logistical challenges of mobilising all outstanding applicants to approach our offices to have their biometrical details such as fingerprints taken to enable the department to finalise their applications.”
Some applicants are still awaiting travel documents to be issued by the Zimbabwean authorities, but Dlamini Zuma hoped this would be finalized soon.
“We reiterate our conviction that the Zimbabwean authorities are on course to ensure their nationals receive the necessary travel documents in due course in line with their commitment to the South African government to ensure we can timeously conclude the project,” she added.
Once these processes have been finalised, the entire Zimbabwean Documentation Project will undergo a review process to ensure that unsuccessful applications were not unduly rejected.
Post published in: Africa News