South Africa is poised to give the international community a progress report on its national efforts to document illegal Zimbabweans living in South Africa, to the 61st session of the UNHCR meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday, 4 October.
The progress report on documenting Zimbabweans living in South Africa will be presented by South Africa's Home Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees meeting scheduled to begin deliberations on Monday, 4 October and conclude on 8 October 2010.
The process of documenting Zimbabweans living in South Africa began on 20 September and includes the extension of amnesty to those Zimbabweans who return South African identity documents (ID) and permits acquired fraudulently.
South Africa has been inspired by the huge turnout of Zimbabweans living in South Africa who wish to regularize their stay in South Africa by applying for valid study, work or business permits.
In this regard, 46 Home Affairs regional offices across the country, staffed by 250 Home Affairs officials have been earmarked to assist Zimbabweans while the Zimbabwean embassy and consulate deal with applications for valid travel documents.
In addition, Minister Dlamini Zuma is also expected to address the UNHCR on South Africa's efforts to review its immigration policy with the view to separating economic migrants from genuine asylum seekers.
In this regard, Minister Dlamini Zuma has already begun a consultative process with stakeholders beginning with Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and Business Unity South Africa (BISA).
Deliberations of the UNHCR meeting are also expected to focus on among others the intractability of conflict, globally displaced populations, natural disasters as well as reform of the UNHCR.
Contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
South Africa to give progress report on documenting Zimbabweans to United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) meeting
