JOHANNESBURG South Africas government says it is withdrawing the special status granted to illegal Zimbabwean immigrants who fled their countrys economic meltdown and political violence.
Government spokesman Themba Maseko said South Africa will begin deportations after Dec. 31. It ends an April 2009 amnesty that allowed Zimbabweans to stay in the country without passports and visas.
Zimbabwean and South African rights groups condemned Thursdays decision. They say it is a blow to the fight for democracy in Zimbabwe.
Maseko says home affairs ministers in both countries have agreed on the move. He says the Zimbabwean government has also promised to issue identity documents to Zimbabweans, which they were previously unable to do because of economic woes.
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