A Zimbabwean lawyer has lauded Dr. Leon Schreiber, Zimbabwe's newly appointed minister of home affairs, for his decision to broaden the country's visa application process to include international tourists and skilled professionals. "Well done!" was Simba Chitando's response to Schreiber. Your efforts to restore SA's image are commendable.
Minister Schreiber has previously stated that protecting skilled workers, foreign visitors, and anyone impacted by Home Affairs visa processing delays will be his first step in the role of minister. This move follows his promise to swiftly extend the concession. His decision was to accept visa applications until December 31, 2024. At a time when the Department of Home Affairs is behind schedule in approving tourist visas and when qualified personnel who could otherwise boost the economy are in short supply, this development comes as a shock.
Applicants were exposed to negative outcomes, such as being mistakenly labelled "undesirable" due to circumstances beyond their control, as the concession was set to expire on 30 June 2024.
For Simba Chitando, the expansion was like listening to music. An athlete, politician, philanthropist, lawyer, and businessman, Chitando is a passionate Zimbabwean who is dedicated to helping his country and its people. People in Zimbabwe, especially those with the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP), may count on him to defend their rights. Chitando has been pleading with the South African authorities to grant permanent residency to Zimbabweans for a while now.
"International tourists and workers who contribute to our economy would have been punished if their documentation expired while they awaited the outcome of Home Affairs processes," states Schreiber in his statement. Investment, tourism, and the transfer of skills would all be discouraged by this unreasonable and unfair policy.
With today's concession, we were able to avoid this problem, and now applicants, companies, and other stakeholders
persons 65 and up are safeguarded until the Department of Home Affairs resolves the backlog of visa applications. I will ensure that the public is kept informed as we work to clear this backlog, which is an essential priority.
We are extending the concession until December 31, 2024. Nevertheless, I assure you that there will be no more instances like the present one, where the concession ends before an extension is announced, as a further indication of our determination to revitalise Home Affairs as a tool for South Africa's economic growth. I agree to keep you updated on any changes or extensions to the concession, and I will make sure that the new expiration date of 31 December 2024 is communicated as we work on the backlog.
Here is the source:
https://x.com/simbachitando/status/1808803450228003314?t=543DXnDO9nRo56k4lDYdGQ&s=19