MANY Zimbabweans living in South Africa face a gloomy Christmas because they have only nine days left before the December 31 deadline to register to be properly documented.
Zimbabweans who miss the deadline face deportation.
Yesterday hundreds queued at the Home Affairs offices in Wynberg, Cape Town.
Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma made an unannounced visit to the offices. She told journalists the process was going well.
Outside, though peaceful, many of the Zimbabweans people looked very worried.
Bram Hanekom of the lobby group People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty spent time trying to calm them down.
Many of the Zimbabweans were anxious, Hanekom said.
Some said they had slept outside the offices in order to be first in the queue, while others said they had been there since 2am.
The registration process started three months ago. Though many said they had applied, they said they were still waiting for their permits.
Motor mechanic Rymes Phiri, 28, said he applied on September 22 - a day after the registration process started - but "they tell me my application is still pending".
"I have submitted all they (Home Affairs) required, but when I come here they tell me my application is still pending," he said.
"If they have rejected my application they should say so. Then I can get whatever they require in order to sort out my application."
Willard Mushonga, 27, who arrived at about 5am, said he applied in October but had only received an SMS from Home Affairs, saying they had received his application.
He said his worry was that when he applied for the new permit, like many others, he had to surrender his asylum papers. Applicants are not allowed to work until their permits have been approved.
Mushonga said without papers it was difficult to be offered a permanent job or to open a bank account.
"We're suffering. Employers take advantage of the fact that we don't have papers and exploit us," he said.
A mother of two - who declined to be named - said she had slept at the offices. She said she was more worried about her daughters, who tagged along.
" I have applied and hope to get a positive result, but what about my twins? They have to go to school next year," she said.
Anxious Christmas for zim permit seekers
MANY Zimbabweans living in South Africa face a gloomy Christmas because they have only nine days left before the December 31 deadline to register to be properly documented.
Zimbabweans who miss the deadline face deportation.
Yesterday hundreds queued at the Home Affairs offices in Wynberg, Cape Town.
Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma made an unannounced visit to the offices. She told journalists the process was going well.
Outside, though peaceful, many of the Zimbabweans people looked very worried.
Bram Hanekom of the lobby group People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty spent time trying to calm them down.
Many of the Zimbabweans were anxious, Hanekom said.
Some said they had slept outside the offices in order to be first in the queue, while others said they had been there since 2am.
The registration process started three months ago. Though many said they had applied, they said they were still waiting for their permits.
Motor mechanic Rymes Phiri, 28, said he applied on September 22 - a day after the registration process started - but "they tell me my application is still pending".
"I have submitted all they (Home Affairs) required, but when I come here they tell me my application is still pending," he said.
"If they have rejected my application they should say so. Then I can get whatever they require in order to sort out my application."
Willard Mushonga, 27, who arrived at about 5am, said he applied in October but had only received an SMS from Home Affairs, saying they had received his application.
He said his worry was that when he applied for the new permit, like many others, he had to surrender his asylum papers. Applicants are not allowed to work until their permits have been approved.
Mushonga said without papers it was difficult to be offered a permanent job or to open a bank account.
"We're suffering. Employers take advantage of the fact that we don't have papers and exploit us," he said.
A mother of two - who declined to be named - said she had slept at the offices. She said she was more worried about her daughters, who tagged along.
" I have applied and hope to get a positive result, but what about my twins? They have to go to school next year," she said.
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