Registrar-General speaks on South Africa deportations

The Registrar-General, Tobaiwa Mudede said his department had afforded the Zimbabweans in South Africa a chance to regularise their stay, but some now wanting special help did not take up the offer.

"There is nothing we can do about those who are facing deportations because we gave them a chance to apply for passports but they decided not to. Our team was in South Africa for a very long time and my understanding is that those who regularised their stay are not going to be affected," Mr Mudede said.

Addressing journalists in Harare last week, Mr Mudede said about 51 000 passports had been processed so far.

"The Registrar-General sent a team to South Africa to document Zimbabwean resident in that country. The team completed its work on January 31 2011. A total of 58 189 passport applications had been submitted then. The process had continued up to April 30 2011. Approximately 78 189 passport applications have since been received by the department. To date 51 014 passports have been processed," he said.

South Africa last year halted deporting illegal Zimbabweans living in that country after discussions with the Zimbabwean Government to allow regularisation of stay for the illegal residents.

The documentation process was launched for Zimbabweans to get relevant permits to stay in the country legally from 2011.

Meanwhile, Mr Mudede warned the public against being conned by touts who claim to be working with his office and take people's money.

He said some of the touts were issuing fake passport application receipts, which his department rejects.

"We would like to alert or warn members of the public to be wary of touts or conmen who swindle them out of their hard-earned money by promising them better service outside the passport offices.

"Of late they have been issuing passport forms and receipts from their vehicles and private offices while pocketing the money for their personal use. Their receipts and forms are not recognised by this department, therefore passports will not be issued by the Department against such receipts.

"I appeal to the public to deal only with members of the department from designated passport offices throughout the country," Mr Mudede said.

Media reports quote South African Home Affairs spokesperson Mr Ronnie Mamoepa saying deportations would be carried out after the July 31 deadline. Mr Mamoepa said South African was on course to beating the July 31 deadline of providing permits to all eligible illegal Zimbabwean immigrants who applied to regularise their stay.

"The process (of providing permits) is still underway and we are hopeful we will beat the deadline. We will take action once the process is complete and that's when we will announce how the deportations will be conducted," Mr Mamoepa said.

Comments