Zim Exemption Permits Extended For 6 More Months-SA

The South African (SA) government has extended for six more months Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP’s) till June next year to apply for visas.

31 December 2022 was the expiry date of the ZEP’s, with SA Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi making it categorically clear that permit holders will not be detained, deported or arrested before the new deadline.

Minister Motsoaledi said the extension meant that no permit holders may be arrested, detained, or deported.

The Minister of Home Affairs added that, they may not produce valid exemption certificates or an authorisation to remain in the country before the deadline.

Doctor Motsoaledi said:

“The holder of the permit may be allowed to enter into or depart from the Republic of South Africa in terms of section 9 of the [Immigration] act, read together with the immigration regulations, 2014, provided he or she complies with all other requirements for entry and departure from the republic.”

ZEP is a special dispensation permit that was established more than 10 years ago, providing legal protection to around 178 000 Zimbabweans who live, work and study in South Africa.

South Africa decided to terminate the permits in December after its Cabinet agreed that permit holders with critical skills must apply for visas to remain in the Southern African country.

Minister Aaron Motsoaledi in essence has extended the validity of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) to 30 June next year.

The Ministry of Home affairs spokesperson Siya Qoza also reinforced that, “The minister acted on the recommendation of the advisory committee led by Dr Cassius Lubusi.

Spokesperson Qoza added that, the minister considered the department had received very few applications by Zimbabwean nationals for ordinary visas so far.

It is common knowledge and in the public domain that the department made submissions in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria that only 6 000 out of the 178 000 permit holders had made representations about why the department should not terminate their permits only last month.

Motsoaledi’s spokesman Qoza added that there would be no further extensions after June.

“The minister is committed to affording the affected Zimbabwean nationals another opportunity to apply for one of the other visas or waivers provided in the Immigration Act,” he said.”