In a bid to clear the backlog Zimbabwean nationals regularising their stay in SA, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has turned to SMS to contact those whose applications are incomplete.
This initiative, which kicked off yesterday, is in efforts to speed up the process, which started last year.
According to the department, this system will target applicants who need to take fingerprints at the office of applications; those still requiring passports from the Zimbabwean Consulate; and those who need to submit supporting documents for each of the three types of permits - business, study and work.
The DHA says it will send SMSes to those from whom further information is needed to finalise their applications. “We, therefore, appeal to Zimbabwean nationals to respond timeously to SMS requests... to enable the department to finalise their applications as soon as possible,” it says.
The department says it has been using the SMS system for the past two years for other services and it has proven to be successful, especially for checking on the progress of passport, permits and identity document applications.
Commenting on the DHA's efforts, MD of BulkSMS, Dr Pieter Streicher, says this is a great e-government strategy, which can provide a better flow of communication between the government and the applicants.
“This will be an efficient way to reach a large number of those who applied and it will cut down the telephony costs,” he says, adding that through SMS technology, organisations can save lot of time and money, and increase efficiency while offering “great customer service”.
While many cannot afford the transport costs of repeated trips to Home Affairs offices, the majority do have cellphones and can receive and respond to SMSes, he says.
“SMS has become an extremely popular way of sending personal messages in the country.”
The department, on 31 December 2010, brought to a close the process of receiving applications from undocumented Zimbabwean nationals.
The department says it is sorting out 275 762 applications it received from Zimbabwean nationals, and has found that 116 960 applications were incomplete.
“This includes applications from 28 044 applicants who had applied for Zimbabwean passports, 15 066 who had applied using other Zimbabwean documentation, 17 596 who had applied with no supporting documents, and 56 254 whose fingerprints were required,” it says.
So far, 119 009 applications have been adjudicated. The department is also validating and confirming 6 243 amnesty applications.
The department, following consultations with the government of Zimbabwe, has agreed to finalise the process of documenting Zimbabwean nationals by the end of July.
Last year, it established a call centre for those with enquiries regarding the end of the special dispensation programme for Zimbabweans.
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