THE South African government has extended the closing date
for submission of applications for Zimbabweans willing to get Zimbabwe
Exemption Permit (ZEP) to January 31 next year.
The three-year Zimbabwe Special Permit (ZSP), which allows
Zimbabwean nationals to work, study and conduct business in South Africa,
started in 2014, and over 197 941 were issued.
However, they are due to expire on December 31, 2017. South
Africa’s Home Affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni announced the extension
of the ZEP project at a media briefing in Pretoria yesterday.
“Due to the large number of ZSP (Zimbabwe Special Permit)
holders who have completed the online applications thus far, the department has
extended the closing date for the submission of supporting documents and
biometrics to 31 January, 2018,” said DG Apleni.
“Therefore, people must present themselves to VFS (Visa
Facilitation Services) offices until this date – 31 January 2018.”
DG Apleni said they initially expected to complete the ZEP
project, including finalising adjudications and issuing the new permits, by the
end of September this year.
He, however, stressed that the November 30 deadline was
only for submission of online applications.
“Flooding of VFS offices actually defeats the aim of using
technology to improve service delivery,” he said.
“Just as it is comfortable to apply for exemption permits
at home, where you do not have to queue, we want to ensure that people are not
subjected to the discomfort of spending hours in a queue.
“The extension, up to 31 January 2018, is only for
scheduling appointments for the purpose of submitting biometrics (fingerprints)
and supporting documents at VFS offices.”
DG Apleni implored ZSP holders to complete their online
applications, to make necessary payments, and schedule appointments by November
30 at any of the 10 VFS Global offices across South Africa.
He said ZEP permits would be issued for a maximum period of
four years, effective January 2018 and expiring on 31 December 2021,
notwithstanding the date of issue.
DG Apleni added that there was no requirement for ZSP
holders to apply for other permits outside South Africa, but could apply for
mainstream permits in that country.
“ZSP holders who want to travel outside South Africa for
the festive season will be able to do so. They only need to produce their
passports with the ZSP stickers, and their ZEP application stickers,” he said.
In terms of the special dispensation granted by Pretoria in
2014, Zimbabweans who had previously been granted permits under the
Dispensation for Zimbabweans Project were permitted to re-register for the
non-renewable three-year ZSP, which has now been substituted by ZEP.
DG Apleni commended Zimbabweans living and working in that
country for expeditiously transitioning from the special dispensation permits
to the conventional permits issued under South Africa’s immigration
legislation.
He said exemption permits are not permanent or long term.
“They are there only to serve a specific purpose, with a
view ultimately to having people returning to their countries of origin to
build their lives anew,” he said.
To date, 169 078 ZSP holders have completed their
applications online, and 135 913 have scheduled their appointments, while total
of 72 612 applicants have completed the entire process. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment