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South Africa tightens Visa requirements
Kholwani Nyathi, Zimbabwejournalists.com
October 26, 2006

http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=1221&cat=1

SOUTH Africa has further tightened its visa requirements for Zimbabwean travellers, a development that is set to negatively impact on thousands of crossborder traders who travel to the neighbouring country regularly.

A number of distraught crossborder traders who failed to meet the new requirements and were denied visas thronged the South African embassy visa agents, Swift and FedEx, in the city yesterday.

According to a circular from the South African embassy, posted at its visa agents in the city, Zimbabweans applying for travel visas now have to pay a security deposit of at least $108 000 (Johannesburg only) in addition to a host of other requirements.

The security deposit, which is refundable at the expiry of the visa or once one returns to Zimbabwe, used to be applicable to firsttime visitors only, but it has been extended to all travellers.

Other requirements include original travel cheques amounting to 1 000 Rand, a letter of invitation and that from an employer as well as two passport size pictures.

"The South African Embassy confirms that the amount of $108 000 used to be paid by firsttime applicants only, but now it has to apply to regular applicants/travellers who, if they so wish, can demand refunds of their deposit upon their return to Zimbabwe or when the visa expires," read the circular.

"In cases where they demand the refund before the visa expires, they will have to lodge the deposit with the embassy before they can travel.

"This deposit is held by the embassy in case the applicant has to be repatriated for various reasons."

South African visas are valid for between three and six months.

The amount that has to be paid as deposit varies from one destination in South Africa to another, with those going to Durban expected to fork as much as $148 000.

"The deposit has to be paid through a bank cheque and those travelling to destinations other than Durban and Johannesburg have to inquire about the fee from the embassy," read the circular.

Although South African Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Professor Mlungisi Makhalima, was not available for comment yesterday, embassy staff in the visa section confirmed the latest developments.

Crossborder traders described the new requirements as hostile and said their only source of income was under threat.

Xolani Dube, of Bulawayo, said the new requirements had not been communicated well to potential travellers who were denied visas.

"I sent my wife’s passport with the old requirements only for it to be returned without the visa.

"When I inquired they said I must also include a bank certified cheque of $108 000, which is refundable after six months.

"But my concern is that if I pay the money it will lose its value because of the economic situation in the country and the South African embassy can not pay me any interest because they are not a bank," Dube complained.

He said the new requirements had also been poorly communicated, thereby inconveniencing a number of people who sent their passports to the embassy through agents.

"This is the most emphatic message that South Africans do not want us in their country," said Pauline Ncube, who travels to sell curios in South Africa every three months.

"Some of us have been travelling to South Africa regularly and we have never overstayed in that country.

"Even if one is able to raise the $108 000 by the time the refunds are made in three or six months’ time, the money will have lost its value because of the inflationary environment."

The crossborder traders appealed to the South African government to come up with better ways of controlling illegal immigration at the same time promoting trade between the two countries.

However, crossborder transport operators, popularly known as omalayitsha, said the new requirements had not impacted negatively on their business.

This could be explained by the fact that the transporters carry both illegal and legal travellers.

They charge those without passports or visas 1 200 rand or $120 000 to cross the border.

Despite the tough visa conditions, South Africa continues to deport thousands of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe every year.

Some risk their lives by swimming across the crocodile-infested Limpopo River.

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