'No' to Zim deportation
A ZIMBABWEAN refugee rights group says it will interdict the government's new plans to deport undocumented Zimbabweans.
This after government spokesperson Themba Maseko announced yesterday that the cabinet had decided on Wednesday to end a "special dispensation for Zimbabwean nationals" that was introduced last year.
The dispensation stopped all deportations of Zimbabweans - who were allowed to move in and out of South Africa freely for 90 days at a time.
Maseko said: "The special dispensation will end on December 31 2010 . Thereafter, all undocumented Zimbabweans will be treated like other foreigners and their deportation will resume."
He told the media at a conference at the Union Buildings that the Zimbabwean government would "issue documents to all their undocumented nationals". If these Zimbabweans were working, conducting business or studying in SA, they would get permits.
But Maseko could not confirm that Zimbabweans doing informal work, like hawking or cleaning, would get work permits.
He also could not say if Zimbabweans who crossed the border without papers would first have to go home to apply for a passport before coming back to apply for a work permit.
People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty (Passop) spokesperson Braam Hanekom said his organisation would interdict the plan.
Hanekom said that before Zuma announced the special dispensation last year the National Immigration Branch (NIB) and police would arrive in townships and ask locals to point out the homes of "foreigners''.
"More attempts to arrest and deport Zimbabweans will likely lead to an outbreak of xenophobic violence.
We believe that the 'witch-hunt' of foreign nationals by the NIB and police was a major factor in creating the conditions that lead to xenophobia," he said.
Hanekom added that ward councillors in townships and informal settlements could start rounding up Zimbabwean nationals ahead of the local government elections in a bid to win votes from their communities.
"Passop also does not believe that the Zimbabwean department of home affairs is fully capable of documenting Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa.
"We are not convinced that the process will be completed by the 31st of December, meaning vulnerable undocumented immigrants are likely to be deported," Hanekom said.
MTT
HAMBANI TU,go back and fight for your democracy in your own country just like we did,we only sent militants and top politicians to your country not everyone,please khumbulani ekhayaReport Abuse
680404
People like Mr Hanekom who seems to be so desperate for publicity must stop creating wrong impressions about this whole matter and rather engage the Zimbabwean government to make budget available to cater for those Zimbabweans who may not be in possession of the required documentation instead of trying to scare the government about courts interdict and many other suggestions made after the anouncement.We can not as a country ignore the facts tabled by the government about failure to account for foreign nationals in our country.This people are in our country illegally and do not meet the required process of either working or trading in South Africa.So who is supposed to be responsible for their safety if they can not be counted since there was no documentation of their entry? Iam sick and tired of mickey mouse organisations such as passop who seems to be interested in creating the impression that we are at wrong as a country in making sure that we secure the rights of our citizens in making sure that we do not become a country where resources can not be accounted for due to fraud committed against the state by some of this illegal immigrants.Maybe Mr Hanekom is benefiting through some form of international funding in the name of protecting these people and that is why he is so outspoken against the proposed move by the government of South Africa.We can not be held responsible for the failures of the Zimbabwean government in providing proper documents for its people in as much as affordability of processing passports and visas are concerned.We have done enough in making sure that there is dialog between the two factions in Zimbabwe,and allowed some of the people who crossed our borders to seek refuge in our country during the tense moments in their country.If the Department of Home Affairs in Zimbabwe is not capable of providing documents to its people why are we as South Africans supposed to be blamed for it? what about our own people who can not survive on a daily basis? must they also start their own organisation and start blaming you Mr Hanekom since their basic needs can not be met by their government? You are nothing but an opportunistic individual who realises that if the proposed stand by the government takes place you are going to loose your international funding and the free publicity you've been receiving for being a spokesman who only focuses on what our government is trying to do in relation to illegal immigrants.About 3000 000 Zimbabweans,maybe you must accomodate them in your farm and see how it feels to be in the position our country find itself.O na le mokgwa Monna Hanekom....!Report Abuse
MTT
HAMBANI TU,go back and fight for your democracy in your own country just like we did,we only sent militants and top politicians to your country not everyone,please khumbulani ekhayaReport Abuse
ndumie
i think time has come for our government to take action against illegal immigrants in our country.law must be intensify against all illegal immigrants,from what i've seen our government has no plan and money for them and it is difficult for governemnt to control them,so they must be deported back to their country.Report Abuse
Biggie
There is no place like home believe me. But there is no pain like seeing your young one die of hunger, the pain of not getting medication when sick. Trust me all these Zimbabweans do miss their homes and people must stop treating them like rubbish as their are not different from all of us.It is the situation in their country that made them cross the border in search for food and clothing for their families, they are not searching for richies but survival. Put yourselves and their shoes and try to feel what they are going through, but anyway you wouldn't fit as you don't know what they go through in that country.
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Alloisha
we as South African had our own big problems n we overcome them, so PLS, GOVERMNENT, les us enjoy our country in peace,they must go!!! n solve their problems at their country like we did,n that naigarians, who r painfully corrupting our country, pls let them follow too, they must go to their home,ok some r here legaly n some, yaa!! if u can hear their story, u'll faint ,couse is so scarry! n u government, u r cousing a big xenophobic violence, n this time is going to b worse.THEY MUST GO HOME!!! N FIX THEIR PROBLEMS AT THIER COUNTRY, ZIMBABIAN N NIGARIALS,THEY R DIRTYING OUR TOWN WITH THAT STINKING FIRE!! EACH CORNER IS FIRE, WHAT IS MUNISIPAL DOING ABOUT THIS!!! AIR POLUTUION MAN!!! THIS IS TOO MUCH, SOUTH AFRICANS WILL END UP TAKING LAW IN THEIR HANDS.. PLS GOVERNMENT, ACT...
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tsayaya
A South African DJ went to perform for one night in Zim and was refused entry because he did not have a work permit. Work permit for one night's performance! How many Zims are in S.A without work permits and for how long have they been here. Zim shows us that if we are careless about influx control, they are not, and they put their foot down.S.A is like prostitute of a country which bends backwards for all the countries of the world to satisfy themselves with. Botswana has a recorded number of foreigners who are kept in a camp and taken care of by the United Nations. What's wrong with this land of plenty (panty or kanga) to do likewise.
May this be the step in the right direction.
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tsayaya
A South African DJ went to perform for one night in Zim and was refused entry because he did not have a work permit. Work permit for one night's performance! How many Zims are in S.A without work permits and for how long have they been here. Zim shows us that if we are careless about influx control, they are not, and they put their foot down.S.A is like prostitute of a country which bends backwards for all the countries of the world to satisfy themselves with. Botswana has a recorded number of foreigners who are kept in a camp and taken care of by the United Nations. What's wrong with this land of plenty (panty or kanga) to do likewise.
May this be the step in the right direction.
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