250,000 Zimbabweans permits extended until 2017

South Africa Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has said on Tuesday August 12, 2014 that almost 250,000 Zimbabweans can remain in the country as their permits will be extended for further three years. New immigration and visa rules had threatened expulsion of over quarter of a million nationals of Zimbabwe after the expiry of their permits later this year.

Malusi Gigaba told reporters that special program that allowed the Zimbabweans to live and work in South Africa for four years will now be valid until 2017.

“The new special permit is valid only for three years,” Gigaba said. He clarified that this is only one time relief granted to Zimbabwean nationals.

South Africa changed the immigraiton and visa rules in May 2014 which required that applicants provide the biometric data along with their applications. Furthermore the Zimbabweans were required to return to their country and apply for work permit at the South African visa office in Zimbabwe.

Most of the Zimbabweans were worried that they may lose their jobs when they return to their country to submit application for new work permit and wanted the South African government to provide relief.

Increasing unemployment in South Africa and improving situation in Zimbabwe is forcing South African government to act tough on immigration rules.

Gigaba said, “We believe the conditions  have improved and will continue to improve.”  Zimbabweans now have three years to apply for new work permit under the new immigration and visa rules.

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Posted by Jamshed Sindhu on Aug 13 2014. Filed under Latest News, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.