Migrant organisations have lambasted the government for its handling of the application process of the Zimbabwean Special Dispensation permits.

This came at a time when hundreds of Zimbabwean immigrants were on Friday seen wait to be deported from the Lindela Repatriation Centre outside Johannesburg.

Zimbabwe Permits Assist organisation said Zimbabweans in South Africa have until September 30 to collect their documents from the Visa and Permit Facilitation Centres across all nine provinces. “Failure to do so will result in the permits being sent back to the department,” said ZPA.

“Home Affairs said 26 986 permits of the 198 032 applications processed had yet to be collected. It said 6.2 percent of applications had been rejected. But human rights lawyers are challenging this figure.”

The organisation said there were people whose applications were rejected but they were never given reasons why.

“Over and above this they were never informed of their right to appeal the decision,” said ZPA.

“This does not comply with regulations in the Immigration Act. Worse is that the appeal date is within 10 days and this has long passed,” said Human Rights lawyer David Cote.

Chairperson of the African Diaspora Forum Marc Gbaffou urged those who failed to renew their permits to report to them as they would be making a special request to Home Affairs for amnesty.”Source – Byo24News