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Home Affairs extends closing date for ZSP holders

Date: 16 November 2017 By: Andries van Zyl

The Department of Home Affairs announced on Friday that they have extended the closing date for the submission of supporting documents for Zimbabwean Special Permit (ZSP) holders.

Speaking at a media briefing last Friday, Home Affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni said that they were thrilled by the rapid pace of applications for the new Zimbabwean exemption permit, which began on 15 September this year, for valid ZSP holders. The submission of the completed applications commenced on 1 October.

The ZSP, which started in 2014 and was issued for a period of three years, allowed Zimbabwean nationals to work, study or conduct business in South Africa. The ZSP will expire on 31 December 2017 and the total number of ZSP permits issued was 197 941. “ZSP permit holders were advised to submit applications online, from 15 September 2017, through the VFS website, that is www.vfsglobal.com/ZEP/SouthAfrica/com. The cut-off date for the submission of online applications is 30 November 2017. This means that Zimbabweans still have 20 days to make online applications,” said Apleni.

Since 1 October this year, applicants have been allocated appointments for the required submission of fingerprints and supporting documents to VFS. Apleni said that, to date, 169 078 ZSP holders had completed their applications online, and 135 913 had scheduled their appointments. A total of 72 612 applicants have completed the entire process. The entire process includes honouring their appointments with VFS and submitting supporting documents and biometrics.

“Due to the large number of ZSP permit holders who have completed the online applications thus far, the department has extended the closing date for the submission of supporting documents and biometrics to 31 January 2018. Therefore, people must present themselves to the VFS office until this date – 31 January 2018. By the end of September 2018, we should have completed the whole project, including finalising adjudications and issuing the new permits,” said Apleni.

Apleni emphasized that 30 November is only for submission of online applications. “Flooding of VFS offices actually defeats the aim of using technology to improve service delivery. Just as it is comfortable to apply for exemption permits at home, where you do not have to queue, we want to ensure that people are not subjected to the discomfort of spending hours in a queue. The extension, up to 31 January 2018, is only for scheduling of appointments for the purpose of submitting biometrics (fingerprints) and supporting documents at VFS Offices,” said Apleni.

ZSP permit-holders are therefore urged to still complete their applications online, make the necessary payment and schedule appointments by 30 November 2017 at any of the 10 VFS Global offices.  “We reiterate that ZEP permits will be issued for a maximum period of four (4) years, effective from 01 January 2018 and expiring on 31 December 2021, notwithstanding the date of issue,” said Apleni. Locally, the nearest VFS office is situated at the Thornhill Shopping Centre, Veldspaat and Munnik Avenue, Bendor Park, in Polokwane.

 
 
 

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Andries van Zyl

Andries joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in April 1993 as a darkroom assistant. Within a couple of months he moved over to the production side of the newspaper and eventually doubled as a reporter. In 1995 he left the newspaper group and travelled overseas for a couple of months. In 1996, Andries rejoined the Zoutpansberger as a reporter. In August 2002, he was appointed as News Editor of the Zoutpansberger, a position he holds until today.

 
 

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