Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
THE Zimbabwean community in South Africa has raised concern over what it describes as growing harassment and intimidation of Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders by some sections of South African authorities.
In a statement on Tuesday, the ZimCommunitySA condemned disturbing conduct captured in a video posted by eMalahleni FM News, which showed immigration officials appearing to dismiss the validity of the ZEP and allegedly taunting a migrant.
ZimCommunitySA said the incident raises serious questions about the level of immigration-law knowledge among officials tasked with enforcing South Africa’s immigration laws.
The organisation, which represents the interests of scores of Zimbabweans living in the neighbouring country, noted that a senior officer in the video appeared to reject the existence and extension of the ZEP, even after being told that the Department of Home Affairs, under Minister Dr Leon Schreiber, had extended it through Directive 21.
The ZEP in South Africa is valid until May 28, 2027. This extension protects approximately 178 000 Zimbabwean nationals from arrest, detention, or deportation, allowing them to continue living, working, and studying in the country.
“Officials cannot become participants in the vigilante narrative against migrants. An officer’s unfamiliarity with a directive does not invalidate that directive, nor does it give an official licence to ridicule or intimidate a person asserting their lawful status,” said ZimCommunitySA in the statement.
ZimCommunitySA warned that reliance on successive administrative directives to extend the status of hundreds of thousands of people leaves ZEP holders vulnerable when those directives are poorly understood or inconsistently applied.
The group said the consequences are real, with reports of people losing jobs, facing difficulties accessing services, and experiencing arrest, detention, and alleged extortion.
Some migrants have reportedly been asked for money by individuals presenting themselves as law-enforcement officers.
“The ZEP experience also exposes a serious structural problem. Reliance on successive administrative directives to extend the status of hundreds of thousands of people leaves permit holders vulnerable when those directives are poorly understood or inconsistently implemented on the ground,” reads part of the statement.
“The consequences are real: people can lose employment and livelihoods, experience difficulties accessing services, face arrest or detention, and become vulnerable to intimidation and alleged extortion.”
The organisation called on the Department of Home Affairs to ensure that SAPS and immigration officials are properly briefed whenever directives affecting migrants are issued or amended.
It also called for investigations into the conduct shown in the video and into allegations of abuse and extortion.
ZimCommunitySA emphasised that millions of foreign nationals in South Africa are lawfully present under various visas, permits and exemptions, and that nationality does not determine immigration status.
The group said Zimbabweans on special permits have contributed to the economy for years through work, rent, taxes, businesses and essential services.
“We do not oppose lawful immigration enforcement. We oppose arbitrary, uninformed and degrading enforcement. Being a foreign national does not make someone illegal. Being a migrant does not suspend one’s right to dignity,” said ZimCommunitySA.
Come back home guys. Such humiliation only serves to confirm that you lack self respect yourselves. Come back home! Working in South Africa is not worth losing your life. There are 17 million people in Zimbabwe and they are alive, safe and well. South Africans have made it quite clear they don’t want you in their country. Why are you resisting? You will end up dead and they will continue to hunt more down and kill. You know that law enforcers side with their fellow citizens. The announcement by the Home Affairs minister to extend the validity of ZEP counts for nothing for those in Katlehong or Tembisa who want all foreigners out of South Africa. They will hunt you down, kill you and get away with it. Who will you blame when it happens? Come home!!