AXED X Factor sensation Gamu Nhengu has won an eleventh hour appeal against deportation, it emerged yesterday.
The Zimbabwean teenager and her family face being kicked out of the UK because her mother breached visa conditions by wrongly claiming benefits.
Gamu, 18, of Tillicoultry, Clacks, could be returned to Zimbabwe along with brothers Milton, 12, and Marty, five, and their mother, Nokuthula Ngazana.
FREE NEWS UPDATES 24/7...FOLLOW THE SCOTTISH EXPRESS ON TWITTER
The Home Office ruled out a review of the case but the family has now been granted an appeal at an immigration court later this month.
Ms Ngazana, 42, widow of a lawyer in Zimbabwe, came to Scotland to study nursing eight years ago but her visa expired and has not been extended. The family’s solicitor, Frances Farrell, said: “The Home Office had claimed the family had no rights of appeal and could be returned to Zimbabwe.
“This is a major breakthrough and the family are relieved to secure the hearing before an immigration judge.”
Last month UK Border Agency officials ruled Ms Ngazana had “obtained public funds for which she is not eligible” after claiming ?16,000 in tax credits.
It’s understood that the family were told to leave the UK voluntarily or face deportation.
The ruling came days after X Factor judge Cheryl Cole sparked outrage by voting Gamu out of the final 12 of the ITV talent show. Gamu has previously said she feared being put up before a firing squad if she was returned to Zimbabwe. But she later she said she had got over the pain of being axed from the talent show and had no hard feelings towards Cheryl.
The Zimbabwean teenager and her family face being kicked out of the UK because her mother breached visa conditions by wrongly claiming benefits.
Gamu, 18, of Tillicoultry, Clacks, could be returned to Zimbabwe along with brothers Milton, 12, and Marty, five, and their mother, Nokuthula Ngazana.
FREE NEWS UPDATES 24/7...FOLLOW THE SCOTTISH EXPRESS ON TWITTER
The Home Office ruled out a review of the case but the family has now been granted an appeal at an immigration court later this month.
Ms Ngazana, 42, widow of a lawyer in Zimbabwe, came to Scotland to study nursing eight years ago but her visa expired and has not been extended. The family’s solicitor, Frances Farrell, said: “The Home Office had claimed the family had no rights of appeal and could be returned to Zimbabwe.
“This is a major breakthrough and the family are relieved to secure the hearing before an immigration judge.”
Last month UK Border Agency officials ruled Ms Ngazana had “obtained public funds for which she is not eligible” after claiming ?16,000 in tax credits.
It’s understood that the family were told to leave the UK voluntarily or face deportation.
The ruling came days after X Factor judge Cheryl Cole sparked outrage by voting Gamu out of the final 12 of the ITV talent show. Gamu has previously said she feared being put up before a firing squad if she was returned to Zimbabwe. But she later she said she had got over the pain of being axed from the talent show and had no hard feelings towards Cheryl.
Comment