BL Premium reports that Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele advised on Thursday that the government would no longer issue extensions to the Zimbabwean Special Exemption Permit (ZEP), which is set to end on 31 December this year.
The special visas were introduced in 2009 to allow Zimbabweans working in SA to gain legal status. Almost 200,000 people were granted the visas for an initial five-year period, which was extended twice. “Following its deliberations, cabinet decided to no longer issue extensions to the Zimbabwean special dispensations. However, it decided on a 12-month grace period [until the end of 2022] at the expiry of the current [permits],” Gungubele indicated. During this period, the holders of the permits should apply for other visas appropriate to their particular status or situation. “At the expiry of this 12-month period, those who are not successful will have to leave South Africa or be deported,” Gungubele advised. He added that cabinet had noted and denounced the rising xenophobia against foreign nationals in parts of the country. Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit Holders Association says that more than 250,000 Zimbabweans have asked the courts to declare them permanent SA residents, following the expiry of their ZEPs.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bekezela Phakathi at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
- Read too, Zimbabweans given lifeline despite Cabinet’s decision not to renew special permit, at The Citizen
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