The worst fears of millions of Zimbabweans living and working in the neighbouring country have been confirmed, says the party’s spokesperson Rogers Mudarikwa.
Under the documentation project Zimbabweans were issued with four-year renewable work permits.
“In meetings four years ago we sat with the then Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, now chair of the African Union, and her Director General Nkuseni. The minister promised to renew the work permits upon expiry. She dismissed our suspicions that this was an intelligence gathering exercise. Now, four years down the line, the South African government is singing a different tune,” said Mudarikwa.
“Home Affairs is no longer renewing the permits. The department is also not re-issuing new work permits for those who lost their passports containing valid work-permits. Those who got two years work permits on the basis of the ending life-span of their passports are not being issued the remaining two years – even after acquiring new passports. We wonder if we made a mistake to trust the government of South Africa,” he fumed.
Home Affairs officials in Johannesburg told MDC-T officials today that they were completely in the dark. The department is now saying Zimbabweans must apply for the renewal of their work-permits from Harare. The officials said the decision to stop the project was a complete u-turn to what was agreed on between the Minister and members of the stakeholders forum that resulted in the documentation project.
The project was initially shunned by Zimbabweans who suspected that the South African government was trying to flush them out. But when MDC-T officials in South Africa encouraged fellow Zimbabweans to participate in the project, more than 250,000 came out and applied for the four-year permits. Those with refugee statuses were coaxed into surrendering them in exchange for work permits.
“Zimbabweans feel deceived by the South African government. The ANC government is now running away from their signatures. It is ironic that such a revolutionary party whose leadership was kept comfortably in Zimbabwe during their liberation struggle could treat us like that. We have a strong suspicion that the current Minister of Home Affairs, Naledi Pandor, has little understanding of challenges faced by Africans. We urge the ANC government to be sensitive, compassionate and considerate. Such a decision by the government has the potential to fan xenophobic attacks,” says a statement from the MDC-T.
The party has urged all Zimbabweans to email or call senior officials in the Home Affairs department urging them to reconsider this decision: Mkuseli Apleni: Director General, 082 449 7535, (012)406 2501 email: Mkuseli.apleni@dha.gov.za OR
Jackie Mckay,
Deputy Director General Immigration Services
0824428998, (012) 406 2697 or email: Jackie.mckay@dha.gov.za
Post published in: News
The ANC have completed their job to fool everyone and have successfully assisted ZanuPF to steal another election.
Now they need to create employment for South Africans so the will not renew any work permits.
But all Zimbabweans in South Africa know that the Home Affairs Department is corrupt to the core and many of their staff operate private little cottage industries after hours.
It is easy to buy “legitimate” ID documents by just asking on the streets.
These papers are now confusing us after every week you come up with different stories.Gather your news properly we are tired of these updates on permits.Let the responsible authorities address us on national television.
These papers are now confusing us after every week you come up with different stories.Gather your news properly we are tired of these updates on permits.Let the responsible authorities address us on national television.
These papers are now confusing us after every week you come up with different stories.Gather your news properly we are tired of these updates on permits.Let the responsible authorities address us on national television.
Is MDC-T Party now in Zimbabwean government? please explain to me this problem….the government of South Africa made a BIG mistake by taking MDC-T Party to the table sign with them the status of Zimbabweans in the Republic….now the South African government is running away from its signature it signed with the opposition Party….now is the time where South African government sees what it did was wrong….Zimbabwean government must sit down with the government of South Africa to discuss this issue not with an opposition movement….please explain to us whether the Zimbabwean opposition Party signed with you (South African government) these agreements……..
lets go back home guys. We are wasting our time here. You die a worker here in South Africa. Our brothers and sisters are doing far much better with the US dollar. How do we expect to be employed yet millions of South Africans are jobless.
Surely one turns to wonder why SA has changed her mind on the plight of Zimbabweans working there by refusing the renewal of work-permits while on the other trade relations have grown considerably as one economists argued that Zimbabwe is the supermarket of SA. More corrupt practices will be rampant such as issuing of SA I.D.S and massive deportation of illegal immigrants will eventually increase compromising human-rights of fellow Africans. They are white people living there but there continue to enjoy life while black people continue to bite one another. Guys think about it succinctly.
Surely one turns to wonder why SA has changed her mind on the plight of Zimbabweans working there by refusing the renewal of work-permits while on the other trade relations have grown considerably as one economists argued that Zimbabwe is the supermarket of SA. More corrupt practices will be rampant such as issuing of SA I.D.S and massive deportation of illegal immigrants will eventually increase compromising human-rights of fellow Africans. They are white people living there but there continue to enjoy life while black people continue to bite one another. Guys think about it succinctly.