In a significant policy shift, South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has announced an 18-month extension of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEPs), extending their validity until May 28, 2027. The move offers temporary relief and renewed hope to tens of thousands of Zimbabwean nationals who have lived in South Africa for years amid growing concerns over their legal status and future.
The ZEP, first introduced in 2017, was designed to regularize the stay of Zimbabwean nationals who had been living and working in South Africa under earlier permit schemes, such as the Zimbabwean Dispensation Permit (ZDP) and the Zimbabwean Special Permit (ZSP). The initiative was part of South Africa’s broader effort to manage migration from Zimbabwe, which intensified following the country’s economic collapse and political instability in the 2000s.
However, in December 2021, the South African Department of Home Affairs announced plans to terminate the ZEP programme, declaring that holders had until December 31, 2022, to transition to other visa categories or risk becoming undocumented. The decision sparked widespread criticism from human rights groups, labour unions, and migration advocates, who argued that ending the permits without a viable alternative would expose thousands of Zimbabweans to deportation, job loss, and family separation.
The issue escalated to the courts, and in June 2023, the Johannesburg High Court ruled that the government’s decision to end the ZEP programme was “unlawful, unconstitutional, and invalid.” The court ordered the Department of Home Affairs to conduct a proper consultation process and to review the decision in a manner consistent with South Africa’s administrative justice laws.
Minister Schreiber’s latest announcement marks a major policy correction aimed at bringing legal clarity to the affected Zimbabwean community while the government undertakes a comprehensive review of its migration and visa framework. “The extension until May 2027 will provide much-needed certainty to ZEP holders and ensure that their rights are protected while the department finalizes new immigration policies,” Schreiber said in a statement.
The extension also reflects the government’s acknowledgment of the economic and social contribution of Zimbabwean nationals to South Africa. Many ZEP holders have lived in the country for over a decade, working in essential sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and construction. Their children, many of whom were born or raised in South Africa, attend local schools and consider the country home.
Migration experts have welcomed the decision as a “humanitarian and pragmatic step,” noting that the 18-month extension will ease administrative pressure and prevent a potential humanitarian crisis. However, advocacy groups continue to urge the government to develop a long-term, inclusive migration policy that recognises the reality of regional mobility within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
For many Zimbabweans, the extension represents a temporary reprieve but not a permanent solution. Uncertainty remains over what will happen after May 2027, particularly if no clear pathway to permanent residence or work visas is established. Civil society organisations are now calling for dialogue between Pretoria and Harare to address the root causes of migration, including economic hardship and political instability in Zimbabwe.
The fate of more than 178,000 ZEP holders hangs in the balance as South Africa attempts to balance its domestic immigration concerns with regional solidarity and human rights obligations. While the extension has been widely praised, observers note that the government must use this time wisely to craft a fair and sustainable framework that protects both national interests and the dignity of foreign nationals living within its borders.
For now, the decision to extend the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits until 2027 brings much-needed relief to thousands of families and signals a more measured and compassionate approach to migration management in South Africa’s evolving immigration landscape.
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