Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya- Beitbridge Bureau
SOUTH AFRICA’S Ministry of Home Affairs has further extended the lifeline of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP), some of which were due to expire end of November this year.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber announced this in a Government Gazette on Tuesday.
The new arrangements, which fall under Ministerial Immigration Directive No. 21 of 2025, have extended the validity of the permits until May 28, 2027.
He said the permits had been extended in terms of South Africa’s immigration law section 31 (2)(b).
“I have decided to extend the validity of the Zimbabwe Exemption permits (ZEP) until May 28 2027,” said the Minister in the Gazette.
“The Immigration Advisory Board (IAB) was appointed by me with effect from 1 April 2025. The IAB has met on several occasions and deliberated amongst themselves on the immediate future of long term solutions for holders of ZEP permits. Critical stakeholders
will need to be part of the consultation process. Pending the conclusion of consultations, I direct that the existing ZEP shall be deemed to remain valid for an additional (18) eighteen months after the current expiry date of November 28, 2025”.
