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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
SOUTH Africa’s Home Affairs Department has suspended payment of fines by migrants who overstay in the neighbouring country but instead offenders will be banned. The new dispensation will see travellers being banned from visiting South Africa for periods ranging from 12 months to five years. According to a circular addressed to all provincial, district and port operations managers signed by the Deputy Director General Responsible for Immigration Services Jacky McKay the new system became effective from May 26.
The letter has since been pasted on all immigration counters at Beitbridge Border Post cited as immigration directive number 9 of 2014. “Section 50(1) fines (Overstayer)-departures . . . In terms of the new Act financial administrative fines for overstayers will cease and be replaced with the following criteria as reflected in regulation number 27 (3) of the new regulations.
“Those who overstay for less than 30 days (first offence in 24 months period) shall be declared undesirable for a period of 12 months and those who repeat a similar offence in 24 months shall be declared undesirable for a period of 24 months. Further those who overstay for 30 days or more to be declared undesirable for a period of five years,” read part of the notice.
The department further said that changes to the operating system had been requested adding that supervisors dealing with these systems were responsible for the finalisation of the overstay alerts hits.
“As an interim arrangement from May 26, 2014 onwards the following procedures should be followed when alerts are experienced (a) when new overstay (May 26, 2014) is indicated the person will be treated as undesirable person as per above criteria and be declared as such using form 19(DHA-46).(b) If the hit is still indicated as a fine with rand value on the Movement Control System the hit must be finalised as a false hit and the declaration (undesirable) comment should be added where applicable,” said McKay.
He said administrative fines issued prior to May 26, 2014 will continue.
Prior to the new arrangement, travellers charged for overstaying in South Africa were fined R1,000 which was payable at the port of entry or at South African embassies in their respective countries. The letter further states that; parents travelling with their minor children should be having unabridged birth certificates.
derick.khumalo