South Africa's home affairs to 'vigorously defend' Zimbabwe permit decision

Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi has hit out at the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) for launching a court action against his decision not to extend exemptions granted to Zimbabweans living in SA.

He said he and his department "will vigorously defend the lawful, reasonable and rational decision" to terminate the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit. Zimbabweans who hold the permit were given a grace period of 12 months to migrate to other permits.

"The minister's door is always open for constructive engagement, rather than waste ever-shrinking government resources to defend unnecessary court challenges," the department said on Tuesday.