Clock ticks for migrants with special permits
As the special permit system draws to a close, tens of thousands of people face returning home with no prospects, writes Samantha Enslin-Payne
Companies and individuals who employ foreigners because they think they can get away with paying lower wages and extracting longer working hours are partly to blame for the end of special permits. Applications for Lesotho special permits closed at the end of December, and are valid until the end of 2019. Zimbabwe special permits expire at the end of this year - those who want to work in South Africa after that have to apply for a standard work visa, for which the bar to qualify is high. The expiry date for special permits was announced by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba in 2015, and the clock is now ticking for Zimbabweans working in South Africa. While the system was in place, 300,000 Zimbabwe special permits were issued. The 2011 census estimates there are 1.7 million foreign-born residents in South Africa. This number would include those who have standard work permits, are studying, undocumented foreigners and children. This week Gigaba said foreigners played an important rol...
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