Question NW2260 to the Minister of Home Affairs
23 September 2021 - NW2260
Luthuli, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
In light of the fact that his department is facing a backlog that includes pre-COVID-19 permanent residence applications, and given that the Zimbabwean Special Permit (ZPS) dispensation is set to expire on 31 December 2021, how does he plan to address the backlog of (a) permanent residence applications and (b) ZPS permit holders, with only a few months until the year is over?
Reply:
a) The Department has not been receiving Permanent Residence applications since March 2020. An extensive project plan to address the current Permanent Residence application backlog at all delegated approval levels was developed and implemented. Staff are currently working overtime until end of March 2022 in an attempt to address the backlog.
b) The Department is currently consulting the various Government clusters where after a Cabinet Memorandum will be presented to Cabinet for a final decision whether any further dispensation will be issued or not.
END