The Department of Home Affairs has reiterated that Friday, 29 November 2024, is the final opportunity for Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders to regularise their stay in South Africa.
UPDATE: Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has extended the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit for at least another year.
Story Summary:
- Today, 29 November 2024, marks the final deadline for Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders in South Africa to regularise their legal status.
- Those who fail to apply for a new permit, visa, or waiver by today risk being declared undesirable and face potential deportation.
- ZEP holders with pending applications for waivers or other visas are exempt from penalties while awaiting the outcomes of their submissions.
Zimbabweans warned to avoid missing the ZEP deadline
The ZEP system, introduced in 2017, allowed eligible Zimbabweans to live, work, and study in the country.
However, its termination has left an estimated 178,000 ZEP holders needing to transition to other visa systems or face legal consequences.
Individuals who have not yet acted must apply for a visa, a waiver, or a renewal of their ZEP permits before the day ends. Failure to do so will place them in contravention of South African immigration laws.
The Department clarified that ZEP holders who submitted applications for waivers or other mainstream visas during the designated window period are protected and do not need to apply for new permits while awaiting the outcomes of their submissions.
What will happen if the deadline is missed?
Zimbabweans residing in South Africa without a valid ZEP after today will be deemed unlawful residents.
According to South African immigration law, individuals who remain in the country without legal documentation face the risk of:
- Being declared undesirable, which could result in bans from re-entering South Africa for periods ranging from one to five years, depending on the length of their overstay.
- Arrest and deportation, as immigration enforcement increase focus on undocumented migrants following the deadline.
For those who missed the window to apply for a waiver or visa in South Africa, future applications for work or critical skills visas must now be submitted in Zimbabwe.
These applications will be evaluated under the stricter points-based system, which came into effect in October 2024.
Under this system, applicants must meet specific thresholds based on their qualifications, work experience, and other criteria, making the process more complex than the ZEP framework.
This final deadline brings an end to years of legal battles and uncertainty over the ZEP system.
Individuals with valid ZEPs or pending applications remain eligible to live, work, and conduct business in South Africa during the processing period.
However, those who have not acted face significant repercussions from today onwards.
