Of the total 275 762 applications received from Zimbabweans as of the December 31, 2010 deadline, the South African government revealed recently that there were still 141 952 permits that still remained to be issued, but added that all these had been pre-adjudicated and check-listed.
“We are currently in the process of collating outstanding documents submitted by Zimbabwean nationals who have applied for work, business and study permits under the Zimbabwe Documentation Project,” said Mkhuseli Apleni, Director-general of the South African Home Affairs Department.
He also revealed that 121 807 had been sent to those who are still to complete the application process, after tendering incomplete documents, with only 43 133 of those having responded so far, while 20 145 applicants are yet to be called in to complete the process.
Apleni added that a total 49 255 Zimbabweans, believed to be economic migrants, surrendered their documents during the ZDP, while 6 243 others surrendered their fraudulently obtained South African identity documents.
However, only 1 706 of the amnesty applications had been confirmed by the end of last week, as adjudication of most matters is yet to be done.
“With a view to closing the project, we have in the last three weeks increased capacity within the Department including the secondment of 274 members of the South African National Defence Force to assist with the finalisation of outstanding applications,” he added.
The South African government official reiterated that since the closure of the project, no new applications for work, study and business permits under the Zimbabwe Documentation Project would be accepted or processed.
Post published in: Africa News