South Africa on Tuesday said around 250 000 Zimbabweans residing in the country on temporary visas due to expire this year can get three-year extensions, delaying a possible mass expulsion of workers
Published
10 years agoon
Gigaba explained that the special arrangement that allowed Zimbabwe nationals to flee a volatile political situation in their home country on 4-year work visas would be extended until 2017.
“The new special permit is valid only for three years,” Gigaba told reporters, making it clear this was only temporary relief for worried Zimbabweans.
In 2008 thousands of Zimbabweans fled to South Africa following violent elections and land grabs that scared investors and led the country into a dismal recession. Many Zimbabweans are currently living in South Africa, working in numerous different sectors of the economy.
The Home Affairs ministry made this announcement amid growing pressure on the government to stem to the growing unemployment figures within its own citizens.
Even though Zimbabwe’s economy is still struggling and unemployment figures still high, Gigaba says that the government believes that the situation there has improved.
Source: Independent Online
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