Earlier this year, the neighbouring country that is home to millions of Zimbabwean exiles, made it mandatory for minors who travel across the border without their biological parents.
The affidavits, signed by either of the parents, must be stamped at a police station – but some people told The Zimbabwean this week that most police stations they had visited in Johannesburg’s Hillbrow suburb and the city centre were refusing to grant them the letters.
“I travelled to about five police stations, but the officers all told me that they had nothing to do with the affidavits,” said one Zimbabwean, who declined to be identified. “Everywhere I went, the story was the same – that police do not do such letters for Zimbabweans. I tried to call the Home Affairs officials for clarity, but they also kept referring me to the police. Finally I got the affidavit at Jeppe Police Station, which is not anywhere near where I live.”
Apparently, the Department of Home Affairs jumped the gun in making the declaration, which had not been well-communicated to the police. “We have only heard about the new requirement from Zimbabweans who come looking for the affidavits here, but we have not been told about that by our superiors,” said a senior officer at Hillbrow Police Station.
“There are cases where we have compromised, but we would only be doing that on humanitarian grounds because, as long as it is not yet official, it can also be regarded illegal and the problem is that those affidavits must be stamped,” he added.
In most cases, desperate parents have paid between R150 and R300 for the “humanitarian assistance”.
An official with the DHA said: “The affidavits system is our way of preventing child trafficking, but we will make sure that this issue is ironed out to enable a trouble-free holiday for families.”
Post published in: Africa News