I have taken note of various media reports over the last
couple of days regarding the Zimbabwean farm worker issue and the
impending intention of Mr BL Masetlha in the Office of the
Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs, to remove
said workers to Zimbabwe.
This is a complicated matter that cannot be resolved unilaterally
by Home Affairs. I have not been briefed by my Department on the
matter and have therefore today written to my colleagues at
Labour, Agriculture and Foreign Affairs inviting a unified
response so that I can take the matter to Cabinet in order to
seek an equitable resolution to the problem.
I have instructed Mr BL Masetlha to inform his staff that with
immediate effect, all the affected workers will have the right to
new permits, or have existing permits extended for a period of 90
days. This should allow Cabinet sufficient time to make a
reasonable and just decision.