Tshwane – Representatives of Zimbabweans based in South Africa are lobbying Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba to extend the permits issues to almost 200 000 migrants under the Zimbabwe Special Permit which are set to expire later this year.
"The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) wishes to put it on record that we are continuing with the lobbying and advocacy work associated with any possible extension of this permit. With other human rights organisations and the Zimbabwean consulate, we are equally worried, and continue to engage on this issue," ZEF chairperson, Advocate Gabriel Shumba told African News Agency on Thursday.
"We are grateful that the Minister [Gigaba] continues to engage on this very sensitive and life-changing issue. As ZEF, we welcome his statement and as he has said, urge Zimbabweans who can migrate to mainstream permits to do so while this call is open."
Shumba however said it was not an easy sail for holders of the ZSP to migrate to other mainstream permits issued in South Africa.
"We humbly request the Minister to ensure that this message trickles down to his officials. Many of them erroneously believe that one cannot apply for another permit while on the ZSP, whereas the position is that you are only barred from extending or changing conditions of the same permit," said Shumba.
Meanwhile, head of the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa, Nicholas Mabhena said anxiety has set in on holders of the ZSP.
"Our people are anxious. They want to know what will happen to them after December 31, 2017," said Mabhena.
"They have faith though, that the South African government will not ask them to go back to Zimbabwe."
Mabhena said the majority of people on the ZSP possess low qualifications and would not quality for mainstream visas. He said his organisation has been lobbying home affairs to extend the three-year permits issued in 2014 with a "non-renewable" condition.
On Wednesday, Gigaba said he was applying his mind on the matter.
“When we look at what to do with the ZSP, we will take into consideration all of the factors that are necessary. I don’t want, right now, to be dragged into the conversation because it has not been properly processed by myself, and it has not been canvassed with my Cabinet colleagues,” Gigaba told reporters at a media briefing in Pretoria.
“We will do that during the course of the year. We are mindful of the fact that people are anxious about the time lapsing. They have established their lives, and some of them have established families.”
Gigaba however said he has been urging holders of the ZSP to apply for mainstream permits, outside the special dispensation.
“The ZSP, by its nature, is a ministerial discretionary permit – that’s why we don’t call it a visa. It’s given to categories of people on the basis of special circumstances. It cannot qualify for permanent residence or even naturalisation afterwards. It is offered and it must lapse,” Gigaba said.
“Once it lapses, to continue offering temporary permits establishes a precedence of permanence. People can take us to court and say they have been in South Africa on this special permit for many years and they now deserve permanent residence [permits]. To offer 190,000 [ZSP holders] people at one go would be unprecedented. It’s unheard of. It’s drastic.”
Gigaba said he needs to apply his mind on the matter without being put under pressure.
“I need to be allowed to exercise my mind fully on the matter, without being put under pressure. I’m quite considerate of the anxieties of the individuals concerned and their families,” he said.
Under a special dispensation granted by Pretoria in 2014, Zimbabweans who had previously being granted permits under the Dispensation for Zimbabweans Project were allowed to re-register for the three-year ZSP.
Zimbabweans have been flocking to South Africa following widespread political violence in the wake of disputed presidential elections and a rundown economy.