Only one day in office and the new Minister for Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, has made an impact. In his first official act he extended the temporary concession for foreign nationals who are currently awaiting the outcome of visa, waiver and appeal applications, until December 31, 2024.
Finally, some relief for around 145 000 applicants, many married to South Africans, who have been living in limbo and in constant fear of being declared an ‘undesirable.’
I’m not sure what exactly caused this enormous backlog at the Department of Home Affairs.
Clearly, something big went wrong. It is important to acknowledge that there are many extremely hardworking and kind Home Affairs officials.
As far as passport and identity document applications are concerned, the system has somewhat improved with the introduction of an appointment system and some bank branches becoming satellite offices. Nevertheless, the length of the queues remains unacceptable.
Hopefully Minister Schreiber will also be able to sort this out.
He might want to look at the extremely efficient online application system used by Ireland.
I recognise that this will not assist the many South Africans who are not able to use online systems, but at least it would shorten the queues significantly.
I also hope that the minister will now finally do the right thing when it comes to the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP).
Introduced in 2009, this permit gave Zimbabweans who were fleeing to South Africa for political or economic reasons, an opportunity to work, study and live here. However, for the last few years the government has been threatening to withdraw these visas.
It is estimated that such a withdrawal could affect over 200 000 Zimbabweans who, unless they can qualify for a normal work visa - something we all know will be nigh impossible given the high standards that the government has introduced for rare skills - will have to return to Zimbabwe.
Many of these Zimbabweans have been here for more than two decades and have married South Africans, who they have children with.
These threats by the government have left them in a state of constant stress and fear.
Almost all democratic countries around the world allow people to apply for permanent residence once they’ve been in that country legally for 60 months.
The previous minister of Home Affairs has argued that this was never the case for those on the ZEP, but the question is: why not? Isn’t it the morally right thing to do - not to mention international jurisprudence?
It is also often argued that Zimbabweans are taking jobs away from South Africans.
It is important to recognise that Zimbabweans contribute greatly to our economy.
Not only do they work hard in professions where employers often struggle to fill positions with South Africans, but they also buy goods here to send back to Zimbabwe.
Of course, there are always those who claim that Zimbabweans are involved in crime.
I have no doubt that some are, but crime is certainly not the prerogative of Zimbabweans.
If people are involved in crime, they must be caught and prosecuted - irrespective of nationality.
Let’s also remember that this is not part of the so-called leaky borders issue, where people enter South Africa without valid permits.
These are people who legally applied to be here through a scheme that the government voluntarily introduced.
Last year, after facing a litany of litigation the previous minister of Home Affairs extended the permits until 29 November 2025.
That was good, but this issue needs to be sorted once and for all.
Ultimately, this is an issue about compassion.
Zimbabwe might be a bit more politically stable today, but it remains a country of political persecution and massive economic hardship.
To force almost 200 000 people to go back there is inhumane and cruel and will result in devastating suffering not only for those returning, but the extended families they support.
It will also leave thousands of South African employers without workers who they have come to rely on.
I wish Minister Schreiber well. He was certainly handed a poisoned chalice, but if he improves the efficiency and humaneness of the Department of Home Affairs, he will not only contribute to the economy, but also become the hero of South Africans and foreigners alike.