Problems with Home Affairs program to make it easier for Zimbabweans to work

Barbara Dzvaka is a widow with two children. Her husband died in 2008. A year later she came to South Africa looking for work.

In 2010, Dzvaka applied for a work permit under the Zimbabwean Dispensation Program (ZDP). Two years later, she received an SMS from the department in Paarl saying she must come and fetch her permit within seven working days. But when she got there, she was informed her permit had been rejected. Later, she was told it was still pending. Then in October this year, DHA in Cape Town told her she had already fetched her work permit.

She wanted an explanation, such as proof that she had signed for it on collection. The Home Affairs official told her there was nothing they could do, and she should re-apply.

Dzvaka says, “I didn’t fetch my permit. I asked the receptionist if there was someone who could help me, or if they had contact details of people who deal with similar cases. I was told I must reapply and wait until I receive an SMS from Home Affairs when it is ready for collection.”

DHA spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said, “The Zimbabwean Dispensation Program (ZDP) was introduced in 2010 to regularize the number of Zimbabweans who were in the country illegally. We received not more than 300,000 applications. Unfortunately not all the applicants met the conditions of immigration so not everyone was qualified to get it.”

He said the application process closed in December 2010. The expiry date for permits will not be extended. If people have any queries about the ZDP then they should go to their nearest DHA.

Dzvaka says, “I have a diploma in cutting and design that I can’t use because I don’t have a permit. My children need taking care of financially.”

Tendai Bhiza from People Against Suffering Oppression Poverty (PASSOP) says “At PASSOP we deal with different issues regarding the Zimbabwean Dispensation Permits almost everyday … We hope Home Affairs will extend the permits.”

Yesterday PASSOP released a statement saying, “The finalization of the Zimbabwean Dispensation Project seems to have reached an impasse, and we at PASSOP are deeply concerned about the situation. We have been approached by a good number of Zimbabweans who still have not received their work permits even though they applied for them in 2010. Additionally, those who had requested an extension or transfer of their permits in 2012 have yet to receive them.”