Outspoken human rights activist Laura Miti was on Tuesday denied entry into South Africa after authorities there said she was carrying a fraudulent permanent resident permit.
A Zambian does not need a Visa when travelling to South Africa.
Miti arrived in South Africa for a workshop on the lunch hour flight but her permit apparently did not show in the South African Immigration system.
This immediately attracted attention to why she had an allegedly forged resident permit in her passport.
Her explanations did not yield positive results and was requested to return to Zambia on the next flight immediately.
And Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba regretted Ms Miti’s experience but stated that his office was dealing with similar cases.
He said most of these cases involve resident permits that were issued to foreign nationals living in South Africa before 1997.
Mr. Mwamba said these permits enjoyed special exemptions.
He explained that some resident permits enjoying this special exemption were discovered to have allegedly been issued even to those that were in South Africa after 1997.
He said following amendments to the country’s immigration law in 2011 and enforced in 2014, it was increasingly difficult for foreign nationals living in South Africa without special technical skills or significant business investment to obtain residence permits.
Laura Miti Wrote on her Facebook page;
“A Harrowing Experience”
“So yesterday, I traveled to South Africa for a routine short trip to attend a workshop”.
“I got to immigration as usual and presented my passport in the section for people with permanent residence, like I have done multiple times. Only this time, the official said they had no record of my permanent residence and thus started the trouble”
“I ended up going back to the immigration office who said they could trace my study permit way back, but not the Permanent Residence or the work permit that preceded it. Since they could not find the record, I would not be allowed to enter the country”.
“Long story short, I came back home on the last flight and was told to follow up the issue with the SA High Commission who I went to today. They in turn said I should write directly to South Africa”
“I have to say this was probably the most harrowing experience of my travel life.”
“I am very curious to know how my Permanent Residence ended up not being not on the records and boy am I glad this happened long after I returned home because it would have been high drama if I was still resident and working in South Africa. As of now, I can only wait for the response. Will keep you posted.”
And this was Emmanuel Mwamba’s response
“Laura Miti, we have numerous cases where suspected fraudulent or dubious permits (permanent residence permits) that were issued have been cancelled…in most cases those issued under exemption (to those that were in South Africa between 1994-1997).”
“We have people living and working in South Africa with what is perceived to be valid permits whose single visit abroad turns into a nightmare as they get ejected out of the country on account that their permits are invalid!”
“Some have mortgages on houses and cars, but their life is thrown into chaos.”
“This relates to resident permits applied with exemptions . It was established that even those that came AFTER 1997 enjoyed the exemptions….in 2016 after an immigration integrity audit, these permits have been cancelled or declared invalid.”
“We have people working as lecturers and bankers that were affected.”
“Further there were fraudulent permits that many foreign nationals allegedly “bought” for purposes of opening bank accounts and pursue a valid stay in South Africa. These have also been cancelled”.
“I dont know the details of your matter, but it can be resolved by re-applying or appealing your case…The trouble is that South Africa has introduced agency system where an interface agency has to process your application(like Australia, or UK does)”
“Our long-term solution is to process all such cases through the Bi-National Commission by seeking amnesty for all such cases, and if possible obtain a special status permit for Zambians living in South Africa(as was done for Lesotho and Zimbabwe) because of our historical links.”
“In 2013, the Immigration Act of 2002 was amended to prevention and combating of trafficking persons and Act No 3 of 2011 which came into effect in 2014 has made it increasingly difficult for foreign nationals especially those without special technical skills or significant business investments from obtaining permanent residence.”
“And for those that overstay, the system bans you between 1year to 5 years…however we are keen to help resolve special cases especially for students and medical cases.”
Iwe Mwamba thats poor diplomatic efforts you have made so far. RSA authorities are aware about our historical links and we expect you as a GRZ rep there to strike a diplomatic deal to ensure zambian nationals based there including visitors to that country to have smooth entry…!!!!!! Zambians deserve better bane…
Mwamba is too busy politicking for Edgar Lungu to sort out the crisis of the 1996 permanent resident permits.
Almost all Zambians in RSA I know are affected. But our embassy does not care.
Every time Mwamba is on SABC defending Lungu’s blunders instead of doing his job of looking after the welfare of Zambians in RSA.
Even now there is a Zambian who came to Joburg on a business trip and has been kidnapped but our embassy does not care about his welfare. If you’re stranded in RSA, don’t even bother going to our useless embassy.
Mwamba is correct and I hope they are all found out.
I studied there for a few years and I know even my uncle bought his resident permit for R10,000 and he started working and still is.
No sympathy and I hope they are deported and come back to work in their own country.
Go and develop your country and all you lot who took short cuts, the system will catch up on you.
You are illegal.
Thanks
BB2014,2016
Diplomatic response from Mwamba, but how many times has RSA inconvenienced Zambians…the honey ban is still on yet RSA is moving hundreds of goods into their shops in Zambia. Now this again …
..Zambians deserve better treatment from RSA authorities bane…
You have weak leaders…Rwanda and Nigeria would never tolerate such tommyrot…they would send back trucks at the border.
She is not the first and the only one.B!tch is irrelevant and it wasn’t even her money but donor fimo-fimo
Who is this Man? I pity the guy who would marry, or evene palangashets it… Looks like Zodwa’s Ancestor
Seriously speaking even myself used to think Laura Miti was a woman. Little did I know that we have our own Zodwa representing.
Ni Zodwa.
Your mother must look like a toilet…
Spaka to me she looks sexy
May be she was not wearing any pants. Zodwa wa Miti has been chased back home.
@NBA Offical. You have a point, friend. However, Laura is seeking attention, making it sound like there is malice involved. It is not her affected alone. So the Zed mission in SA has to be proactive.
Typical docile Zambian response. “Its not her alone” mulibwanji baf**** kansi imwe? An inconvenience at the airport can really be a harrowing experience. Wait till your child has such as experience ninshi ayenda ku skulu ku Russia or China and only has limited mankucha.. Mukatashya!
Very much PF fontinees above ….more concerned with a person’s looks than the issue at hand…..shut it if you have nothing to say about the topic….is mumbi phiri any better that miti ?
If it was vice versa. ..a South African being turned away what would be the reaction ? I remember how our people reacted when the now silent Musical Maimane was bundled back in the aeroplane and flown back to RSA. And Laura one would have expected such an experienced campaigner would ensure everything was in order. Or maybe she’s too busy fighting Edgar to check if her papers are in order ..
Don’t worry guys she is a elder sister to Zodwa Wantu, she wanted to visit her sister Zodwa in South Africa in the pretends of going for a NGO conference! Tell her things have changed now in South Africa! gone are the days Laura boi
The lady is very natural and looks good. That’s the problem when you worship ladies with bleached skin, imported hair and nails. The real deal is not appreciated. Regarding the issue at hand, the Zambian High Commission is SA can do better than what is prevalent currently. There a lot of negative reports coming from that country regarding the plight of Zambians. Not long ago, export of honey to SA by Zambian companies was banned under very unclear circumstances and I doubt if this issue has been resolved
We looked after their leaders, including president Thabo Mbeki. Funny how now they forget Zambians no matter what party and treat us like strangers. This needs redress yesterday. South Africa acting un African.
When her papers are in order she will be allowed in – no big deal and nothing to do with how well we looked after the South Africans. Hope when she and her hubby ran to SA – scared of Chiluba’s Zero Option managed to get the right papers.
Laws are laws. You may keep your brother, educate him until he finds a job but doesn’t entitle you to his ATM card, or does it.
There is no need for debate here. There is only one question to this Miti woman, are you a permanent resident in SA? Did you obtain or apply & was granted SA permanent residence?
LMB was itching to blame her ejection on someone but this was not to be.LMB is well aware that she is no longer a resident of RSA. In her own words she says she was fortunate in that she relocated to her native country and as such the entire experience of a flight back home did not have the intended impact. To seek to deceive a host country as she says “I got to immigration as usual and presented my passport in the section for people with permanent residence, like I have done multiple times”….’as usual???” uhm you know very well that Zambians can visit RSA without a visa and be allowed stay of up to 30 days..so why not queue in the ‘section for visa exempt passports’ which is your current status. LMB you might just have opened up yourself to a long stay away from RSA.
Very good observation. Thanks.
So Mushota is jealous of her own uncle / relatives for living a better life than her in SA? She talks rubbish about a zambian & yet she is worse than satan. What bad did your uncle do to you for you to wish him bad?
Oh, it is easy to spot someone who bough an ID.
I hope you are also found out
I live in EUROPE , you compare that with living in SA?
You are ignorant
Thanks
BB2014,2016
kikki ask your xxxxx pilatu to help you
Criminal and unpatriotic creature. No wonder she makes so much noise since she had a plan were to ran to. Well done SA for sending back the criminal with a matero resident permit
Which Human Rights NGO does she deceive? Laura was a loner at UNZA and no man ever wanted to be near her because of her appearance. Could it be that even now when she is old and tired that there is still no man in sight hence the bitterness? Anyway, am sure she has been taught a lesson and hopefully learnt to be patriotic because a foreigner will forever be a slave in a foreign land no matter what.
I don’t like Laura but I don’t have to rejoice at the humiliating embarrassing treatment of my fellow Zambian. To me no Zambian should be subjected to such .
Iwe Malinso iwe. Don’t disparage people like that just because they happen to disagree with Lungu’s incompetence and corruption. And then you say, “a foreigner will forever be a slave in a foreign land no matter what.” Who told you that? Are you not aware that people, even in Zambia, can live like slaves in their own country? You have all these crooked foreign companies taking advantage of Zambian workers, working under slave conditions and being paid slave wages. And the sad thing is, their own government cares less to protect them from these crooked employers. Laura is one of the few voices of reason in the country, and you blind PF cadre decide to take cheap shots at her, just because she exposes corruption in clueless corrupt Lungu’s regime? It seems like it’s you who is…
a slave to supporting PF and Lungu’s corruption no matter what. Wake up, buddy. Shame on you.
I smell a rodent. I think PF are involved here, how does a woman critical of the Zambian governemt get sent out.
As long as it was not politically motivated then they were just doing their job.
Zodwa walola wamiti.
Look alikes
Boys to men Laura paipa pano mama neo