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X Factor's Gamu Nhengu to fight deportation order
Lawyers for Gamu and her family hope to overturn Home Office ruling
The former X Factor contestant Gamu Nhengu will fight to stay in Britain, with solicitors reportedly seeking to overturn the Home Office order that her family be deported back to Zimbabwe.
UK immigration officials confirmed yesterday that 18-year-old Gamu's mother Nokuthula Ngazana had been refused permission to stay in the UK after her visa expired in August. The family, who currently live in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, have been in Britain for 10 years.
The family’s solicitor, Peter Farrell, told the BBC that he would be seeking a judicial review of the case from the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Farrell said that he understood an application to extend the family's visa was turned down after Gamu's mother had supplied the wrong bank details. The error had meant the application was deemed to have expired, he said, although Ngazana had lodged it in time.
Gamu's mother has also been accused of claiming benefits that she was not entitled to. Farrell said that Ngazana had been "given permission" to claim both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit by the Inland Revenue "in the full knowledge of her immigration status".
Despite impressing audiences with her performances, Gamu was eliminated from The X Factor on Sunday after her mentor Cheryl Cole chose not to take her through to the finals. The verdict surprised viewers and TV observers - including The First Post's Johnny Dee - who have asked whether ITV executives were aware that Gamu's visa was about to run out.
Yesterday more than 100 people gathered outside the aspiring singer's home to show their support for Gamu, her mother and two brothers Milton, 11, and Marty, 9.
The family's local MP Gordon Banks said they were "understandably distraught". ·
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There are SO MANY spongers who sneak in at the back door of England & don't intend to give anything good to England, but take take, take! Her Mother came here to study and better herself. She did that and passed as a nurse. Others come here and don't even try to speak or learn English! They should be weeding them out & sending them back! So, give them a break! They are proud to be here..... My favourite accent in the world is SCOTLAND!
While it is easy to feel sorry for this family, especially the children, if it is true as has been alleged that the mother has abused the sanctuary given to her by claiming benefits to which she was apparently not entitled, I cannot see why an exception should be made in this case. My only doubt is that there are far worse people who are allowed to remain here for spurious or distorted "human rights" claims so this family could be seen as an easy target. Its about time someone in authority got a grip on the situation and deported everyone who has broken our laws!
Why all the fuss? Her visa has run out. Send her back to her country!