adminH- Metro Reporter
SOUTH Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, has been ordered by the Pretoria High Court to halt arrests and deportation of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) holders.
This was revealed by SA TV station, Newzroom Afrika, yesterday.
Three judges, sitting as a full bench in the High Court, ruled that the ZEPs shall remain valid for the next 12 months up to June 30, 2024.
The holders will have protection from arrest and deportation.
Earlier this month, Motsoaledi said they had extended ZEPs by another six months to December 31.
The permits were due to expire tomorrow, but the High Court declared Motsoaledi’s decision to terminate them irrational, invalid and unconstitutional.
This was to allow holders to apply for one or more other visas and waivers provided for in South Africa’s Immigration Act.
There are over 170 000 ZEP holders.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter