"Not going home for Christmas is a small price to pay." That's the message from Home Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Minister Dlamini-Zuma was addressing thousands of Zimbabweans registering for their permits at the Harrison street office in Johannesburg today. Minister Dlamini-Zuma urged all Zimbabweans to register before the 31 December deadline - even if they do not have the required documents.
Zimbabweans who fail to register for their permits on time could face deportation early next year. Dr Dlamini Zuma says: "The Zimbabweans must also be fair on us and realise that we are working and doing our best to sort out their issue and if they miss going home this Christmas it's a small scarifies."
The minister insists the deadline will not be extended. There is an estimated 1.5-million Zimbabweans in South Africa, and with less than two weeks before the deadline, many fear they are running out of time.
The worried Zimbabwean nationals say their concerns are not only whether their applications will be accepted or not, but with delays in getting necessary information from the Zimbabwean embassy, many fear they will not make it home for Christmas.
The Movement for Democratic Change’s Sibanengi Dube says: "The major challenge is actually coming from the Zimbabwean government, they fail to process the papers on time."
From September up to 17 December, more than a hundred and twenty thousand applications were received. Just over 40,000 applications had been adjudicated. Close to 84,000 applications are pending. Fraudulent documents were submitted by almost 300 people. And just under 11,000 applications were denied.
- SABC
Minister Dlamini-Zuma was addressing thousands of Zimbabweans registering for their permits at the Harrison street office in Johannesburg today. Minister Dlamini-Zuma urged all Zimbabweans to register before the 31 December deadline - even if they do not have the required documents.
Zimbabweans who fail to register for their permits on time could face deportation early next year. Dr Dlamini Zuma says: "The Zimbabweans must also be fair on us and realise that we are working and doing our best to sort out their issue and if they miss going home this Christmas it's a small scarifies."
The minister insists the deadline will not be extended. There is an estimated 1.5-million Zimbabweans in South Africa, and with less than two weeks before the deadline, many fear they are running out of time.
The worried Zimbabwean nationals say their concerns are not only whether their applications will be accepted or not, but with delays in getting necessary information from the Zimbabwean embassy, many fear they will not make it home for Christmas.
The Movement for Democratic Change’s Sibanengi Dube says: "The major challenge is actually coming from the Zimbabwean government, they fail to process the papers on time."
From September up to 17 December, more than a hundred and twenty thousand applications were received. Just over 40,000 applications had been adjudicated. Close to 84,000 applications are pending. Fraudulent documents were submitted by almost 300 people. And just under 11,000 applications were denied.
- SABC
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