South Africa has extended by six months the 31 December 2022 deadline for Zimbabweans with special exemption permits to regularise their stay in South Africa by applying for any other available permits.
Following a recommendation by the Departmental Advisory Committee, Home Affairs Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi on Friday said he “decided to extend the period by a further six months, that is, 31 December 2022 to 30 June 2023”.
About 180 000 Zimbabweans who are working, studying or carrying out business are affected by the discontinuation of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP).
Less than a third of them have applied for alternative permits to lawfully remain in South Africa. And fears had been rising that many of them would be deported after the deadline.
Dr. Motsoaledi said he had carefully considered that few Zimbabwensa had applied for visas of waivers before extending the deadline.
“The minister is committed to affording the affected Zinbawean nationals another opportunity to apply for one or other visa and or waiver provided for in the Immigration Act”, the department of home affairs said.
The department called on all affected Zimbabwean nationals “to make use of this window of opportunity and to wait until the last moment to lodge their applications as is the case now”.
Meanwhile, the Helen Suzman Foundation has launched legal action challenging the decision of the Minister of Home Affairs to terminate the ZEP.
