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BusinessLive reports that thousands of Zimbabwean teachers who hold exemption permits may be forced to return to their home country if they fail to secure a visa before the end of the year.
The teachers, many of whom have been teaching at low-fee private schools for years, were allowed to work in the country because they had valid documents. But, Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced at the end of 2021 that extensions to the permits would not be granted and the affected Zimbabwean nationals would be allowed until the end of this year to get visas. He indicated that 178,412 Zimbabwean nationals held exemption permits. They now have to apply for a visitor’s visa or a business, relative’s, spousal, critical skills work or general work visa. But Zimbabwean teachers holding exemption permits said their chances of getting a visa were slim because their employers have to prove to the Department of Employment & Labour why South Africans with the same qualifications could not be appointed to the post. Sharon Reynolds, principal of CityKidz, an inner-city school in Johannesburg, said her school employed more South Africans than foreigners “but the impact of teacher turnover is especially acute with SA teachers” because there were shortages of experienced, well-qualified SA teachers willing to work in an inner-city school. Mandla Mthembu of the National Alliance of Independent Schools’ Associations (Naisa) said Zimbabwean teachers were “very concerned”. Naisa has urged home affairs to consider granting all legally employed Zimbabwean teachers a work visa before the end of the year. Motsoaledi’s spokesperson said a special team had been established to assist in the adjudication of applications “with a view to expediting the process”.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page