IOL News reports that in a move bringing relief to thousands of Zimbabwean nationals living in SA, Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has extended the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) until 28 May 2027.
The announcement affects approximately 180,000 ZEP holders living in SA. The ZEP programme, first introduced in 2017, was designed to regularise the status of Zimbabwean nationals residing in SA under the previous Zimbabwean Dispensation Permit. However, in December 2021, the DHA announced the discontinuation of ZEP and gave holders until 31 December 2022 to transition to other visa categories. That decision faced legal challenges, and in 2023 the Johannesburg High Court ruled that the termination of ZEP had been unlawful. It directed the government to reconsider the matter through a fair and lawful process.
The latest extension grants ZEP holders protection from deportation, entry and exit flexibility and a simplified application process. The government has also indicated that consultations with affected ZEP holders and stakeholders will continue to determine the long-term future of the program. The extension provides ZEP holders with crucial time to regularize their immigration status, apply for mainstream visas, or make arrangements to leave SA.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jonisayi Maromo at IOL News
- Read too, Zimbabwean Exemption Permits extended until May 2027, at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
Get other news reports at the SA LabourNews home page