Five years – and no permits for kids

Vicky Somniso-Abraham

Three Congolese siblings face a bleak future unless Home Affairs grants them permanent residency permits.

Seniorina Munyangai, 21, Grady, 16, Veronica, 19, the late Franck, 20, and three of their siblings have been in the country for the past 11 years.

Their father, Pastor Martin Munyangai– a teacher at a private school in Johannesburg – has been in South Africa for the past 13 years.

The father-of-seven said three of his children – the twins Nkanka and Kapinga, 29 – and Mwaluke, 14, obtained their permits at the same time as he did in 2010. However, the rest were declined.

“We were told it will take another five years to obtain their permits. We went through the first five years applying for permanent residency, but all the time it was ‘sorry’, they can’t find my fi le,” said the pastor.

“They spent around two or three years looking for my lost fi le. After having found my fi le, I went through the application process early last year and they still don’t have permits.”

His daughter Veronica, matriculated two years ago but as a refugee she does not qualify for a student loan or a bursary.

The youngster wants to study either journalism or accounting.

“I cannot get a student loan because my dad has an ID and I don’t. You can’t get a loan with refugee status or as an asylum seeker.

“It is unfair because I can’t go to school because of the kind of document I have.”

Veronica pleaded with government to consider foreign national students when they issue bursaries.

Home Affairs spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete said the department has launched an investigation into the matter and will contact the complainant.