Relief for Zimbabweans as SA govt extends ZEP Permits

The South African Government has extended the validation of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits to the 25th of November, 2026.

 

“….no holder of a ZEP may be arrested, ordered to depart or be detained for

purposes of deportation or deported in terms of section 34 of the Immigration

Act for any reason related to him or her not having any valid exemption

certificate,” part of the notice issued by South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Dr. Leon Amos Schreiber reads.

 

Prior to the announcement, confusion reigned as the Friday ZEP deadline loomed.

 

ZEP holders said it would be impossible for them to meet the Friday deadline to apply for a further one-year exemption because of backlogs at the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

 

ZEP holders had until Friday (29 November) to apply for a one-year exemption that would allow them to stay and work in SA until November 2025. After this date, those without the required visa or waiver are theoretically at risk of deportation.

 

Some 178 000 ZEP holders in SA have faced an uncertain future in SA for years.

 

The previous permit expiry date in November 2023 was extended for another two years under the condition that Zimbabwean and Lesotho exemption permit holders could not thereafter apply for permanent residence in SA.

 

> This is currently being challenged in court, with ZEP holders – many of them living and paying tax in SA for more than 15 years – claiming the minister has the authority to grant them permanent residence.

 

While the two-year extension in 2023 gave ZEP holders some breathing space, it did not remove the uncertainty of their legal status in SA, or that of their families. ZEP holders were instructed to apply for alternative visas, such as a general worker visa, to cement their legal status in the country.

 

“Unfortunately, it seems this deadline causes headaches for many as they struggle to secure submission dates at offices of VFS Global [which handles visa and waiver applications for DHA],” says Xpatweb, which provides services to expatriates.

 

*New systems*

 

Schreiber launched a new system to issue visas digitally via email, which helped in the processing of more than 60 000 ZEP waiver applications, many of them dating back to 2022. ZEP holders now receive waiver letters via email, a system that is being extended to other visa applicants.

 

Marisa Jacobs, MD of Xpatweb, says ZEP holders who applied and received waivers can then submit their applications for general work visas.

 

> In October, the DHA introduced a new points-based system for work visas to combat corruption and inefficiency and reduce red tape.

 

The use of a transparent points scale allows DHA to objectively determine who qualifies for a critical skills or general work visa.

 

*Home Affairs clean-up*

 

Schreiber has been commended for starting to clean house at DHA, recently dismissing 18 officials across the country for a range of offences including fraud, corruption, and sexual harassment. A further four were given written warnings.

 

> The offences include irregular processing and granting of ID documents, marriage certificates, passports and visas.

 

“The dismissal and disciplining of errant officials [is] the result of the further intensification of our clampdown on corruption, fraud and maladministration, and reflects the intensification of cooperation between Home Affairs, the Special Investigating Unit, and the Hawks,” said Schreiber.

 

“Where prosecutable offences have been committed, the dockets will be referred for criminal prosecution.”