The meeting will request the ZSF’s assistance in mobilising Zimbabweans to respond to the SMSs currently being sent to prospective permit holders who have not finished submitting the documents required in the application process.
“As per directives of Minister (Nkosazana) Dlamini Zuma, the department continues to do everything in its power to ensure it meets its obligation to document Zimbabweans living in South Africa,” said Jacob Mamabolo, who heads the process.
“However, we can only succeed with the full support of all applicants. We are doing everything in our power to ensure the process is completed within our set deadlines of July 31.”
Mamabolo praised the good relations that exist between his department and the ZSF, which he credited with the success of the documentation process so far.
“It is important to recognise that the success of this project, from its inception, has been premised on the cooperation of the stakeholder forum, so, we announced in one of the press conferences that we meet with the stakeholders on a monthly basis, to brief them on the status of the project and also to get their input,” he said.
“Regarding our discussions on Monday, and as part of our communication and interaction with the applicants, is that when you mobilise people to respond to a call you want this to happen as fast as possible with maximum impact. The discussions will therefore serve to have Zimbabweans respond as fast as possible, just as we needed them to respond to the call to have themselves documented.”
He added that his department would continue to interact with the Zimbabwean embassy and consulate to ensure the fast-tracking of the issuance of the necessary travel to those who applied without the necessary travel documents.
Meanwhile, more than 140 000 permits approved by the South Africans are yet to be issued.
A total of 275 762 applications for freely-processed work, business and study permits were received by close of the application process on December 31 2010, but the relevant department has only issued slightly above half of those.
Post published in: Africa News