By Rex Mphisa
HUNDREDS of aspiring passport holders are swarming passport offices countrywide seeking the travel document as South Africa reels from loss of labour in industries, farms and the domestic workers fields.
At Beitbridge a vendor said in the last four weeks people were coming in droves to submit passport applications.
“Business has been brisk, we have been selling tea, lunch and various snacks because very many people are coming to place applications,” said the vendor.
She was preparing four cups of tea, egg sandwiches and bead with peanut butter for her customers some of who had slept at the passport office.
“Its cold at night and some people have been camping here to be first in the queue. We have been selling a lot of food to applicants,” she said.
Ziyah News Network established some were coming to register for birth certificates which together with National identity cards are a pre-requisites for passport applications.
Jefres Moyo, an applicant said he wanted to go back to South Africa to work but might not go to Pretoria where he was employed as a printer.
“My employer said he will move me to another branch. In the area I was working I am known and that might present problems,” said Moyo.
Reports from South Africa said it has become impossible to replace thousands of migrant workers who lost their jobs in fear of March and March demonstrations led by Jacinta Ngobese Zuma.
“Businesses are reporting growing shortages of skilled labour, and parts of the country’s transport and agricultural sectors say they are beginning to feel the economic effects of South Africa’s anti-illegal immigration campaign,” said a report by IOL, a South African news agency.
It said the new development comes weeks after protests demanding the removal of undocumented foreign nationals swept across the country.
“What started as isolated demonstrations in May gathered momentum ahead of the self-imposed June 30 deadline set by anti-illegal immigration groups such as March and March and the Labour and Civic Organisation (LACO), which demanded undocumented foreign nationals leave South Africa,” it said.