More than 1 100 people have signed a petition calling on the government of Zimbabwe to review a decision to hike the cost of a passport by nearly 50%.

On 26 July, the Zimbabwean consulate in Johannesburg announced that the price of a passport would rise from $170 (about R3 100) to $250 (about R4 540).

“The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage has directed that all e-Passports applications that are processed at the Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa, shall be handled as express/emergency applications in terms of Statutory Instrument 1 of 2024,” the consulate said.

“In effect, this means passport application fees for the express/emergency passport shall be USD250.00 charged at the prevailing USD/ZAR exchange rate with effect from Monday 29 July 2024.”

Read: South Africa to consult over fate of long-term Zimbabwe migrants

The Zimbabwe Community in South Africa, which aims to represent the interests of Zimbabweans, launched a petition on 30 July.

The petition said: “This fee is far beyond what many Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa can afford, considering the average earnings of our community. It’s an overwhelming burden that prevents us from securing our legal documents which are part and parcel of our fundamental human rights. We believe everyone, regardless of their economic conditions, has a right to their own nationality. We call upon the Zimbabwean government to reassess these fees and reduce them to a fair amount.”

The petition had gathered over 1 100 signatures as of the morning of Friday 2 August.

The chair of the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa, Ngqabutho Mabhena, said:

“The Zimbabwean passport is very expensive. Government wants to use the passport as a tool to raise money.”

A Zimbabwean who lives in Cape Town and whose passport expires in two weeks said he would get his application for a new passport processed at the consulate in Cape Town but courier the application to Zimbabwe so that he could pay the old rate of $170.

“I can not afford the new price because I have a family to feed and rent to pay,” he said.

“The Zimbabwean government is heartless,” said another Zimbabwean, an informal trader living in Gqeberha. “We are suffering in foreign countries because of their mismanagement of our country, and they now milk us dry like this.”

Read: Zimbabweans complain about Home Affairs incompetence

Chris Mapingure, chair of the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network, said the government of Zimbabwe should consider low-income earners in South Africa.

“The majority of them do not have formal jobs. They’re earning less than R5 000 per month. Many people won’t afford this amount and a lot of people will remain undocumented.”

Response from Zimbabwean ambassador

Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi, responding to a request for comment from GroundUp, explained that there are two passport prices: “The first is the ordinary passport that costs USD170 and the second is the express/emergency that is charged USD250.”

But all passport applications made in South Africa are now being handled as express/emergency.

Read: ConCourt rejects appeal of Zimbabwe deportation ruling

“We have taken note of the reactions by our nationals in respect of the cost of the e-passport/express and we’re engaging our government to be aware of these responses,” said Hamadziripi.

“The Embassy in Pretoria and the Johannesburg and Cape Town Consulates implement government policies so when we have reactions from our citizens we make our government aware of these national concerns.”
© 2024 GroundUp. This article was first published here.

Chidimma Adetshina’s success should be a reason to celebrate SA’s diverse heritage
The SA Citizenship Act of 1995 outlines the criteria for citizenship, which were revised after January 2013. The act now uniformly grants citizenship to individuals born to an SA citizen, regardless of where they are born.
Before this change, the law distinguished between those born within and outside the country. Before January 2013, a child born abroad to an SA parent was entitled to citizenship by descent, whereas those born in SA to a citizen or permanent resident were automatically citizens.
After the 2013 amendments, children born in SA to permanent resident permit holders are classified as foreigners unless one parent is an SA citizen, and they qualify for citizenship status only at the age of 18. Moreover, citizenship by descent is now limited to children adopted under the Children’s Act, emphasising that one parent must be an SA citizen at the time of adoption.
We should allow Adetshina and her family to celebrate her achievement without undue scrutiny
SA also maintains a flexible stance on dual or multiple citizenships. The Citizenship Act requires South Africans to obtain prior written consent from the home affairs minister when acquiring another citizenship through naturalisation, excluding cases involving marriage or minors.
The “automatic loss” provision, where citizens lose their status if they obtain foreign citizenship without consent, was challenged by the DA in the Supreme Court of Appeal. We await the Constitutional Court`s confirmation of its ruling, which aligns with the DA’s push for more inclusive and transparent citizenship laws.
Citizenship is more than a legal designation; it embodies a connection to one’s nation, culture and heritage. For many, holding dual or multiple citizenships is practical, offering benefits such as easier travel and broader opportunities. It does not diminish their identity or loyalty to their country of origin.
Since being announced as a Miss SA contestant on July 1, Chidimma Adetshina has faced intense scrutiny, including accusations of favouritism towards Nigeria after a video showed her celebrating with Nigerian relatives. But why should this be an issue? It’s natural to share successes with loved ones, regardless of their nationality.
Perhaps Adetshina is sharing these moments with her Nigerian family because she takes pride in showing them how she is also representing their heritage on an international stage. After all, Trevor Noah shared his achievements with his Swiss father on finding success in the US.
Adetshina has proudly declared: “I am proudly South African and Nigerian,” symbolising peace and unity. This duality should be respected, as it embodies the spirit of inclusivity and the celebration of diverse cultural identities. Her actions highlight the positive expression of dual identity, fostering a sense of connection and pride across borders.
For many years Africa has been working towards greater unity, including developing a pan-African passport to enable visa-free travel across the continent. This aligns with the EU model, fostering co-operation and unity. Instead of harbouring suspicions, we should embrace our shared heritage and be more welcoming to all Africans. Adetshina’s dual identity can serve as a positive example of this unity.
Adding to the complexity, sport, arts & culture minister Gayton McKenzie has called for an “investigation” into Adetshina’s national allegiance, reflecting broader societal tensions about national identity and xenophobia.
The EFF has condemned the “Afrophobic” scrutiny she faces, noting that past Miss SA contestants with foreign parents of white or Asian descent have not encountered a similar backlash. This disparity reveals a deeper xenophobic undercurrent, often worsened by socioeconomic issues such as unemployment and crime, which have fuelled movements such as Operation Dudula that target African immigrants.
Adetshina meets all of the requirements to be a contestant in Miss SA, which include being an SA citizen. While the department of home affairs’ records are not always infallible, they do not hastily grant citizenship status. Should there be any error, the department would need to prove it.
Nonetheless, the law is clear: if Adetshina’s mother was an SA citizen or a permanent residence permit holder at the time of her birth, she is an SA citizen by law, regardless of any clerical errors or public debate. We must all respect the law, which affirms her citizenship.
As the debate about Adetshina continues, it serves as a critical reminder to celebrate SA’s diverse heritage and uphold the principles of unity and diversity that define our nation. It is essential to focus on inclusivity and respect for the legal framework that governs citizenship.
We should allow Adetshina and her family to celebrate her achievement without undue scrutiny. Rather than questioning her nationality, we should focus on the excitement and joy the Miss SA pageant brings. This event is an opportunity to showcase the beauty, talent and diversity of our country. It highlights the strength and resilience of SA women, uniting us in a celebration of shared values and aspirations.
Let’s embrace this spirit of unity and pride, cheering on all contestants as they represent the multifaceted culture and vibrancy of our nation

A Home Affairs official has been sentenced to 35 years imprisonment in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in KwaZulu-Natal for her involvement in a large-scale fraudulent passport scheme.

Judith Salome Zuma was convicted on charges of corruption, fraud, and violations of the Identification Act and the Immigrations Act.

The spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks), Colonel Philani Nkwalase said Zuma was arrested on December 13, 2021.

“The meticulous investigation by the Hawks together with the Department of Home Affairs revealed that she was aiding a criminal network outside her jurisdiction at the Richards Bay Home Affairs office, exploiting vulnerable South Africans by luring them with money ranging between R300 and R500 for fingerprints used to obtain illegal passports for foreign nationals. These illicit activities were conducted at the Durban Home Affairs office situated on Commercial Street during the night, weekends, and public holidays,” Nkwalase said.

He said the probe further revealed that for each fake passport issued, Zuma received R4,000 amounting to a total of R768,000 from 192 fraudulent passports.

Zuma pleaded guilty to 1,159 charges brought against her, including a R10,000 gratification charge aimed at influencing another Home Affairs official to drop an investigation against her.

Zuma was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for 192 counts of fraud, six years imprisonment for three counts of corruption, and 10 years for 192 counts of corruptly accepting gratification.

She was also sentenced to a further five years imprisonment for 385 counts of contravening the Identification Act and another four years imprisonment for 386 counts of contravening the Immigration Act. She will serve an effective 12 years imprisonment.

National head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya applauded the collaborative effort by the Department of Home Affairs, the Hawks as well as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and said the sentence, underscores a strong stance against corruption.

“This sentence serves as a stern warning to those who corruptly or fraudulently facilitate the influx of foreign nationals in our country,” Lebeya said.

Being born in South Africa is simply not reason enough to be classified as a South African national with SA citizenship.

Many individuals think that by being born in South Africa, a child is automatically entitled to South African citizenship.
BEING BORN IN A COUNTRY

However, this is not the case. Merely being born in a country does not entitle an individual to nationality of the country concerned.

If this was the case, it would be highly likely that people would be travelling to all sorts of places they like to give birth to children so that the child may claim the nationality of those countries.
CONFUSION REGARDING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP

A number of individuals are not aware of the proper requirements and believe that South African nationality can easily be acquired.

According to IOL, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza has clarified this matter, explaining that children born in South Africa, with neither parent being South African, do not automatically acquire South African citizenship.
DEPENDENT ON NATIONALITY OF PARENTS

For a child to obtain citizenship by birth in South Africa, one of its parents must be a South African citizen at the time of the child’s birth.

The parents may have legitimately claimed nationality through being naturalised or by becoming a permanent resident of South Africa.
BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP

However, there are several countries where all children born in that respective country are conferred citizenship at birth.

Birthright citizenship or “jus soli” is a policy whereby a child is granted citizenship by the country they are born in.

According to VividMaps, a number of countries, including Argentina, Canada and the United States offer birthright citizenship.

The United States has recognized birthright citizenship, or “jus soli” since the passing of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868.
ANCHOR BABIES

Critics of birthright citizenship say it encourages immigrants to travel a country and have so-called “anchor babies.”

This is true for many countries. Women might fly to places like the United States or Canada to give birth to children.

This is so that their children are entitled to the nationality of another country, regardless of the parent’s nationality.
SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP

Nationals from other other countries might come to South Africa to have babies here.

This is because medical services in South Africa are often better than those in many other states.

They might desire acquiring South African citizenship for babies since South Africa has a relatively powerful African passport.

However, this is not possible under current legal frameworks.

Minister of labour and employment Nomakhosazana Meth has appealed to employers in the hospitality sector to comply with labour laws and regulations.
Meth was talking on the sidelines of the blitz inspections being conducted by the department on Wednesday in Gauteng restaurants. She oversaw the inspections which were conducted in collaboration with home affairs, police and the Bargaining Council for Hospitality.

“I am appealing to employers [to accept] that the honeymoon is over. We are coming for them. They must make sure that they know labour laws and regulations and if they don`t we will help them to know what the law says,” she said.

She said employers are expected to know regulations when they own businesses.

In one of the restaurants the minister visited with the inspectors in Waterfall, Midrand, it was discovered that some of the employees were foreigners without proper work documents.

Inspectors checked on the conditions of employment, whether regulations were being followed, the state of the restaurant and if the employer complied with the National Health and Safety Act.

She said employers don`t delve into the details of the documents in terms of who they are employing.


“Our main concern in the hospitality sector is the issue of noncompliance with the laws, in particular those that regulate employment. Our responsibility working with the department of home affairs and the police is to ensure that we enforce [the law],” she said.

She added that the bargaining council in the sector had discovered that some of the employees had joined an unregistered union, employers included tips as part of workers` salaries and employees were not paid minimum wage.

In one restaurant, an employer and three employees were taken in for questioning by police as the employees didn`t have the right documents.

Maggie Pooe from the Bargaining Council of Restaurants in Gauteng said the main problem was that employees were paid less than the minimum wage.

She said many workers in the sector were undocumented foreigners.

“Last week in Sandton, one restaurant was literally closed down because they were employing people with no papers - I am saying to employers, do the correct thing, comply with regulations,” she said.