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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Reporter
SOUTH Africa has so far approved 197,790 permits out of a total of 208,967 applications made under the Zimbabwe Special Permits (ZSP) programme. ZSP, which was introduced in August last year, allows Zimbabwean holders of the special permit to work, conduct business or study in South Africa for three years.The programme replaced the Dispensation for Zimbabwe Project (DZP) which ran from May 2009 to December 31, 2010.

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, in a statement yesterday, said 160 applications are still under review as a result of technical issues while 25 applications were rejected.

“A total of 197,790 ZSP permits were approved while 160 applications are still under review as a result of technical issues relating to the finalisation of applications, including submission of incomplete applications, capturing biometrics and ensuring the required police clearances have been received. Only 25 applications were rejected because applicants had no previous DZP permits or had negative police clearance,” said Gigaba.

The ZSP, which is now in its final stages of conclusion, saw a total number of applications made online reaching 208,967. The applications were made via a website for the ZPS. VFS Global, the company that was contracted to oversee and manage the process, has officially closed down all of its 11 visa facilitation centres and the remaining permits will have to be collected at VFS regional offices.

Gigaba said of the 48 officials that the department had assigned to the project, there are currently only six attending to the remaining close-out issues. “When we reported to the nation back in August 2015, we said permits that still needed to be collected from VFS Global centres were in the region of 26,986. The number has however, come down to 11, 499. VFS has put a tool in place methodically to track and manage all the remaining cases, ensuring they are finalised,” he said.

The Minister urged people to collect their permits which will be issued by his department until January 31, 2016, after which all uncollected permits will be returned to the department’s offices. The special permits are valid until December 31, 2017, after which all Zimbabweans who intend to extend their stay in the neighbouring country will be required to apply for visas using the normal route in terms of that country’s Immigration Act.

During the DZP, 295,000 Zimbabweans applied for permits and about 249,000 were successful, with the balance not getting them due to lack of passports or non-fulfilment of other requirements.

South Africa Home Affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni said that holders of expired DZP permits will not be deported until the completion of the ZSP. However, those who failed to acquire the permits under DZP are being deported.

Only those who benefited under the DZP programme are eligible to apply for work and study permits under the ZSP. South Africa started accepting permit applications for the DZP permit holders on October 1, 2014.