SA points-based visa system raises uncertainty for Zimbabweans

South Africa's Cabinet has approved sweeping reforms to its immigration system, introducing a points-based framework for visas and citizenship that prioritises skilled workers and economic contributors, a move that has sparked concern among Zimbabwean migrants living in the country.

The new white paper on citizenship, immigration and refugee protection consolidates fragmented legislation into a single policy framework and marks a major shift in how applicants are assessed.

Under the new system, both visa and citizenship applicants will be evaluated based on skills, qualifications, investment potential and broader economic contribution, replacing what government describes as an "arbitrary and inefficient" discretionary model.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the reforms aim to introduce objectivity and merit-based decision-making.

"The general principle we want to introduce is one of objectivity, one of merit-based assessment, and using a points-based system is the clearest way to do that," Schreiber said.

The white paper also introduces a stricter asylum regime under a "first safe country" principle, which will bar asylum seekers who have already passed through or received protection in other safe countries from applying in South Africa.

Schreiber said the measure is intended to distribute responsibility more fairly across the region.

"What we've seen over many years is there is a phenomenon of people picking and choosing South Africa as the only destination where they want to submit a claim for asylum," he said.

Deputy Home Affairs Minister Njabulo Nzuza said the points system will evolve over time based on national labour needs, particularly in high-demand sectors such as engineering and artificial intelligence.

However, the reforms have raised anxiety among Zimbabwean migrants, particularly holders of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP), which has allowed thousands to live and work in South Africa for years.

The ZEP was introduced as a temporary arrangement and has been repeatedly extended, leaving many families in long-term uncertainty.

Chairperson of the Zimbabwean Community in South Africa, Nicholas Ngqabutho Mabhena, warned that the new system could disadvantage long-term residents who do not meet the skills-based criteria.

"You will have a Zimbabwean who has been here since 1994 who cannot become a citizen because they do not meet the necessary skills requirements," he said.

He added that without special transitional measures, many ZEP holders could struggle to qualify for permanent residency under the new framework.

Deputy Minister Nzuza acknowledged the concerns but stressed that the permit was never intended to be permanent.

"The exemption permit itself was meant to be a temporary arrangement," he said, adding that individuals must apply through standard legal channels and be assessed on merit.

The reforms also introduce an annual citizenship application window, replacing year-round submissions, a change government says will improve efficiency and reduce administrative backlogs.

Home Affairs officials say a new citizenship advisory panel will also be established to improve transparency and prevent abuse of the system, citing past governance failures.

"This will really bring that level of objectivity into the system," Schreiber said.

Government maintains the overhaul is aimed at modernising immigration management and attracting scarce skills, while critics warn it could deepen uncertainty for long-settled migrant communities in South Africa.