The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum in South Africa says it’s unfair that the country will be investigating visas issued to foreign nationals to verify their legality.
Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced on Sunday that government will be looking into visas that have been issued by the department in the past after discovering that some high-profile foreign nationals were buying their way into South Africa.
Gabriel Shumba, executive director of the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, said Motsoaledi’s actions were “wrong and impacted negatively” on South Africa’s image.
“We believe that targeting those who have regularised their stay in good faith is wrong and impacts negatively on the image of the country,” Shumba said.
Permit issued illegally
Motsoaledi announced that a CFO of a North West government entity who accused the home affairs department of not responding to his court papers is using fraudulent documentation to be in South Africa.
He said Kudakwashe Mpofu, the suspended CFO of North West Development Corporation, had been informed his permit was issued illegally as it doesn’t appear in the department’s systems.
He said Mpofu was informed “as far back as June 23 2023 that his purported permanent residence permit is actually fraudulent”.
Motsoaledi said after his department had revealed that prophet Shepherd Bushiri was illegally in the country, 14 home affairs officials had submitted a petition to him demanding that the department’s counter-corruption unit “must stop investigating their errors”.
This petition has since led to the establishment of a ministerial task team headed by former director-general Dr Cassius Lubisi.
SIU to provide answers
“The question is: is Mr Mpofu’s case one of these so-called errors that were not supposed to be investigated? We believe the SIU will provide answers. As home affairs we’ve opened a criminal case at the Pretoria Central police station.”
Motsoaledi said as a result of Lubisi’s report, home affairs has since asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to issue a proclamation for the SIU to investigate visa issues in the department.
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Shumba raised concerns about the public pronouncement of someone’s status before all processes have been exhausted.
“We do not promote illegality and [we] encourage foreign nationals to observe the law of South Africa. That said, we also believe it to be a serious violation of the dignity of those who are pronounced guilty before all investigations and appeal processes have been exhausted.”
“Everybody is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Any premature public declarations on the alleged status of people is thus highly prejudicial,” Shumba said.
Motsoaledi reiterated that he would be taking the matter of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit to the Constitutional Court after he did not succeed in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.
Home affairs had decided to end the ZEP, which was introduced when the economic crisis in Zimbabwe began. However, this decision was taken to court for a review.
Shumba said their organisation agrees with the courts.
“Very few if any would extol illegal movement within the region, but in respect of the ZEP we agree with the courts that sacrificing those who are legal — without hearing their side — is unfair, unreasonable or irrational.
“Of course the minister is within his rights to appeal, but some would see this as a waste of resources where two other higher courts have made a similar finding.
“We believe that it’s not too late for the minister to seek an audience with all stakeholders on practical ways forward, and as an organisation established in 2004, we have worked with various ministers and are willing to give meaningful and fruitful contributions,” Shumba said.
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