Clarity on SA Permit issues for Zimbabweans

via Bulawayo24 NEWS | Clarity on SA Permit issues by Butholezwe Nyathi 26 March 2014

It has come to our attention that the Zimbabwean media has reported that the Migrant Workers Association South Africa wants to take the South African government to court to contest their decision(s) regarding how they want to deal with the issue of renewing the Special Dispensation Permits (DZP).

This report(s) is NOT CORRECT. We were not contacted to state our CURRENT position. Our current position is to work within a collective framework where migrants (foreigners) from different countries; being assisted by the South African Forum for International Solidarity (SAFIS), the African Diaspora Forum (ADF), Solidarity Peace Trust (SPT), have come together to ENGAGE and DIALOGUE with the South African government regarding various issues affecting the foreigners in South Africa. We have been very active, within this forum, in pushing for the public pronouncement by the SA government regarding the renewal of the permits and we are being given information that we share with our members and use that information to advice and guide our members.

What is important for us and for the affected now is to understand and interface with the direction that SA government is taking on this issue. There are new changes that are coming and we are waiting for the Minister of Home Affairs to elaborate on the implementation of those changes as stated by the Acting Spokesperson of the SA Cabinet.

Our view is that taking the legal route should be the last option if dialogue fails.

In 2011-12, we were advised by legal practitioners to mobilise members, about 70000 members, and take a legal route to get information about what was going to happen when the permits expires. We couldn’t raise the numbers.

We felt that people still had good time on their passports and were too reluctant to join us. We abandoned that route. It will be difficult for us to go back now as there are financial implications for us to take up the case. I hope this clarifies our efforts.

POST BY: B. Nyathi (MWASA National Coordinator)