South Africa has advised Zimbabwean nationals who were given permits in 2010 under the Dispensation for Zimbabweans programme to ‘wait patiently and with no panic’ as Pretoria moves to review the process ahead of the expiry of the documents.
In March the South African government decided on a process to review the dispensation and since then panic has seized the Zimbabwean refugees who fear that they may be returned to their still unstable country. With some of the permits having already started to expire, the exiles are busy lobbying for the revalidation of the documents
On Friday, Home Affairs Director General Mkuseli Apleni used the UN World Refugee Day commemoration to assure Zimbabweans that Pretoria remains committed to ‘securing the legal protection of refugees.’ He said: ‘South Africa subscribes to the principle that refuges may not be returned, directly or indirectly, to countries where they risk persecution.’
Apleni’s assurances came as Harare was reportedly keen to meet Pretoria to discuss the ‘possible renewal of permits.’…
South Africa Today Africa – Southern Africa Zimbabwe News
