Phill Magakoe, Pretoria News

Home Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has urged Zimbabwean nationals who claim to have been harassed by the police to approach her department.

Addressing a media briefing in Pretoria yesterday after a meeting with South African and Zimbabwean representatives, Dlamini-Zuma said it was difficult to talk about “generalities”.

“If there are issues of harassment, they (Zimbabwean nationals) should talk to us. The issue was (previously) raised by some non-governmental-organisation and we want to get concrete evidence,” she said.

Dlamini-Zuma said she needed concrete evidence so that she could discuss the matter with Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa. “It is difficult to go to the police and talk about generalities.”

The minister added that the deadline for Zimbabwean nationals to legalise their stay in South Africa would not be extended. “There is no way that this can be extended. There are challenges and we are trying to address them,” she said, adding that the deadline “is very firm”.

According to Dlamini-Zuma, only those in the system and those awaiting passports will be assisted.

She said a number of challenges were raised at yesterday’s stakeholder meeting, which was attended by representatives from the Zimbabwean Embassy, the Movement for Democratic Change, the Zimbabwean Exiles Forum and the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.

The challenges include the delay in the processing of birth certificates and identity documents by the Zimbabwean government.

On the issue of Zimbabwean nationals who had fraudulently obtained South African identity documents, Dlamini-Zuma said about 1 000 had applied for amnesty.

Asked what action would be taken against officials who had fraudulently issued documents, Dlamini-Zuma said it was difficult to pinpoint those responsible.

“We did not have a system in the past where we could pinpoint which official issued the documents. We now have a system in place where people lock in with their fingerprint. We can see exactly which official did what,” she said.

She noted that Zimbabwean authorities had received 30 000 applications for new passports. - Pretoria News