SA to discuss immigration rules with UN
by Guneet S - October 5, 2010
South Africa, 5th October: South Africa is likely to discuss its immigration policy with the United Nations to legalize Zimbabweans in the nation.
The South African Home Affairs Department stated that a progress report will be handed over to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) on the progress regarding documenting of illegal Zimbabweans in South Africa.
Ronnie Mamoepa, the official spokesperson stated on Sunday that the Minister of Home Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma would inform the UNHCR in Geneva.
The legalizing process of Zimbabweans in South Africa was initiated on 20th September and will include extending amnesty to the illegal Zimbabweans who come forward in returning South African identity papers and South African permits obtained through fraudulent means.
The number of Zimbabweans living in South Africa and wanting to become legal immigrants in South Africa by making application for South Africa study permits, South Africa work permits or South Africa business permits is large.
The documentation process of Zimbabweans is the first step leading towards the documentation of immigrants of nations neighboring South Africa.
Moreover, the South African government will look into introducing required changes in its immigration policies in accordance with the problems of the migrants wanting to move to South Africa, Dlamini-Zuma added.
In addition, the Home Affairs Minister is going to inform the UNHCR on the efforts of South Africa to review its immigration rules for separating asylum seekers from economic migrants.
Since an increasing number of persons are likely to get displaced due to global warming in Africa as well as the poverty and conflict resulting in higher number of asylum seekers and refugees wanting to immigrate to South Africa, the issue of differentiating between asylum seekers and economic migrants has become critical.
The Home Affairs Department had fixed December 31 as the cut-off date for documentation of all Zimbabweans living in South Africa.
The documentation offer for Zimbabweans by South African government has drawn huge response from immigrants in the nation.
Meanwhile, the South African Home Affairs department has declined to extend the deadline of December 31.
According to unofficial resources, around 2 million Zimbabweans live in South Africa out of which 350000 are documented.
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