The South African government’s recent efforts to speed up visa adjudication and digitize Home Affairs paperwork have many Zimbabweans thrilled, as they believe it will give them another opportunity to continue working in their neighbor.
Gabriel Shumba, the legal head of Global Immigration and Legal Consultancy, said that the migrants welcomed the action taken by the Home Affairs department of the neighboring country.
“We welcome the Department of Home Affairs’ efforts to hasten the adjudication of visa applications. This obviously will remove the anxiety and uncertainty that has always characterised many an applicant’s brief sojourn in the republic,” Shumba, who is also a Zimbabwean lawyer for human rights, said.
“In addition, this efficiency will assist the Republic of South Africa to obtain within record time the much needed skills that are necessary to boost the economy. Efficiency will also help to reduce corruption and that’s welcome.”
South African publications state that the government established goals for the next fiscal year regarding the digitization of Home Affairs papers and the immigration visa application procedure.
According to reports, the Department of Home Affairs established five immigration goals with the intention of cutting down on waiting times.
“The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is continuing its drive for increased efficiency. Focusing on the immigration and civil service departments, DHA has placed its commitments to speeding up certification and visa processing on record,” a recent statement by the SA Home Affairs department read.
“The department presented the 2024 Budget Review and Recommendations Report to Parliament on October 25.”
