Online Reporter
Peter Matika
THOUSANDS of Zimbabweans living and working in South Africa can breathe easy after Pretoria extended the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) to 28 May 2027.
South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Amos Schreiber announced the extension through a public notice — Minister’s Immigration Directive No. 21 of 2025.
“I, Dr L. A. Schreiber, MP, Minister of Home Affairs, with powers bestowed upon me in terms of section 31(2)(b) of the Immigration Act, have decided to extend the validity of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) until 28 May 2027,” read the statement.
He said the decision followed extensive consultations with the Immigration Advisory Board (IAB), which was reconstituted in April this year to review the future of the permits.
“The IAB has met on several occasions and deliberated on the immediate future and a long-term solution for holders of ZEP permits. Critical stakeholders will need to be part of a consultation process,” said Dr Schreiber.
The directive means the current ZEPs, which were set to expire on 28 November 2025, will now remain valid for an additional 18 months.
The move comes as a massive relief for more than 178 000 Zimbabweans who faced an uncertain future in South Africa, with fears of job losses, school disruptions and possible deportations.
Many permit holders have been living in South Africa for over a decade and have contributed to the economy through skilled and semi-skilled work.
The extension gives Pretoria more time to consult on a “long-term, sustainable immigration pathway” for Zimbabweans who have made Mzansi their second home.
More to follow…
