Pretoria - It may be a race against time for Zimbabwean nationals who have left it to the last minute to apply to regularise their stay in South Africa, but the Department of Home Affairs has urged them not to give up.
With the December 31 deadline now just a day away, the department's Director-General Mkuseli Apleni has called on Zimbabwean nationals not to wait another minute.
"Even at this late hour, we reiterate our appeal to all Zimbabwean nationals who have not applied for their regularisation or those with fraudulently acquired South African documents to apply or submit such documents now and not wait for the deadline," he said.
Apleni also welcomed the large number of Zimbabweans who had turned up the department's offices throughout the country in recent days, saying it was an indication that most Zimbabweans living in South Africa wanted to comply with the country's immigration regulations.
As the deadline drew closer, he expected more Zimbabweans to flock to the department's offices.
"Our officials at all offices are on hand to ensure that all Zimbabweans are assisted. We have also implemented a two-shift system at the processing centre in Pretoria with additional staff," Apleni added.
He also thanked organisations representing Zimbabweans living in South Africa for their efforts in mobilising their countrymen to apply for the necessary permits that would help regularise their stay in South Africa.
