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ZEP holders face renewed uncertainty

As the November 2025 expiry date for the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) approaches, thousands of Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa are once again facing an uncertain future, with government yet to provide clear guidance on the way forw…

Published: 09 Sep 2025 at 20:02hrs | | by Staff reporter

ZEP holders in limbo as expiry deadline looms

The Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) and the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA) have expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP), which is set to expire in November 2025.…

Published: 27 Aug 2025 at 05:57hrs | 789 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwean Exemption Permit deadline nears

More than 90,000 Zimbabwean nationals have submitted applications for various visa categories, permits, and waivers to South Africa's Department of Home Affairs (DHA) as the clock ticks down to the final phase of the Zimbabwean Exemption P…

Published: 29 Jul 2025 at 23:45hrs | 967 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe Exemption Permit holders secure legal victory in SA

Zimbabwean immigrants living in South Africa under the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) system have won a major legal reprieve after the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed an attempt by South Africa's Ministry of Home Affairs to overturn an …

Published: 10 Jun 2025 at 10:12hrs | 1422 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabweans shielded from arrest in South Africa

The Supreme Court of Appeal has dismissed with costs the Department of Home Affairs' attempt to overturn an interim interdict, previously granted in favour of the Zimbabwe Immigration Federation, protecting nearly 200,000 Zimbabwean Exempt…

Published: 10 Jun 2025 at 10:02hrs | 1243 | by Staff reporter

New Zimbabwe permit court showdown looming in South Africa

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) on Friday dismissed South Africa's Home Affairs Minister's attempt to set aside an interim court order protecting Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders from arrest and deportation.The interim interdict…

Published: 08 Jun 2025 at 12:04hrs | 154 | by Staff reporter

Supreme Court could reshape the legal status of Zimbabweans in SA

In a landmark ruling that could reshape the legal status of thousands of Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has rejected an appeal by the Minister of Home Affairs against a High Court order concerning t…

Published: 07 Jun 2025 at 10:37hrs | 2925 | by Staff reporter

Zifa elections face first hurdle

The upcoming Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) board elections on January 25 are facing significant legal challenges as two High Court cases and a pending decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) threaten to disrupt the proc…

Published: 14 Jan 2025 at 14:15hrs | 151 | by Staff reporter

SA banks freeze Zep holders' accounts

South African banks have frozen the accounts of Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders, claiming it was a system error. However, the sudden account freezes have caused significant distress, with ZEP holders unable to make transactions a…

Published: 14 Jan 2025 at 14:14hrs | 276 | by Staff reporter

Confusion reigns as Friday ZEP deadline looms

Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders in South Africa are raising concerns that they will be unable to meet the Friday, November 29 deadline to apply for a further one-year exemption due to significant backlogs in the Department of Home …

Published: 27 Nov 2024 at 07:14hrs | 1715 | by Staff reporter

SA Home Affairs to issue digital Zimbabwe Exemption Permits

THE South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will deliver the outcomes of visa waiver applications via e-mail to applicants, starting with Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs).DHA minister, Dr Leon Schreiber introduced the new rule rece…

Published: 01 Sep 2024 at 10:22hrs | 632 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe Exemption Permit extension a temporary relief but ....

EMILY Machingauta (44), a Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (Zep) holder, has welcomed the decision by the government of South Africa to grant a two-year extension to Zimbabwean permit holders.The waiver allows her and other Zep holders to work an…

Published: 15 Apr 2024 at 06:06hrs | 18 | by Sally Nyakanyanga

WATCH: Helen Zille will not chase Zimbabweans from South Africa

Democratic Alliance (DA) federal executive chairperson Helen Zille has indicated that if her party takes over in South Africa, they will not be populist and chase Zimbabweans out of the country.The DA strongwoman said her party will work w…

Published: 22 Mar 2024 at 09:33hrs | 11 | by Staff reporter

'Zimbabwean truck drivers based in SA with valid permits cannot be fired'

Zimbabwean truck drivers notched up a victory this week in the Durban High Court, which ruled they cannot be fired if they have a valid permit, such as the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP).Earlier this month, several Zimbabwean truckers a…

Published: 24 Nov 2023 at 05:48hrs | | by Staff reporter

Maimane blames Zimbabwe Exemption Permit debacle on ANC and Zanu-PF relationship

"The courts have no choice but to uphold refugee laws and the constitution. If we want to solve the immigration crisis we have to go directly to the root of the problem, namely the dictatorship in Zimbabwe."This is according to Build One S…

Published: 02 Jul 2023 at 07:43hrs | 12 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe says it was willing to welcome back its citizens from South Africa

The Zimbabwean government said it had taken note of the judgment by the High Court in Pretoria which ruled that the Department of Home Affairs' decision to summarily terminate the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) was unlawful, unconstitut…

Published: 30 Jun 2023 at 14:47hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Expiry: There are legal alternatives for Zim nationals and their employers

For the many Zimbabwean nationals living in South Africa - and their employers - the upcoming expiry date for the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP), has been a cause for major concern.The ZEP was initially established to allow Zimbabweans in…

Published: 13 Jun 2023 at 10:57hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter

ZEP permits extension delights Zimbabweans in South Africa

ZIMBABWEANS in the diaspora have welcomed the decision by the South African government to extend the validity of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) by a further six months, to allow the holders to apply for one or more other visas and waiv…

Published: 09 Jun 2023 at 06:45hrs | 1 | by Staff reporter

SA opposition adds voice to ZEP saga

SOUTH Africa's opposition African People First (APF) party has backed calls to renew Zimbabwe exemption permits in that country who hail from Matabeleland citing historical ties.APF said this after Mthwakazi Royal Kingdom representatives f…

Published: 11 May 2023 at 05:33hrs | 1 | by Staff reporter

ZEP holders not keen on Zimbabwe return

ZIMBABWEANS that are facing deportation from South Africa after the expiry of their special permits in June are not taking the government's offer to register for assistance to return home voluntarily, it has emerged.South Africa last year …

Published: 27 Apr 2023 at 06:33hrs | | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe Exemption Permit holders fail to make request to facilitate their return home

None of the almost 180 000 Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders have made a formal request to the Zimbabwean Embassy to facilitate their return home yet.This as the permit, which affords holders the means to study, live and work in So…

Published: 26 Apr 2023 at 06:56hrs | 1 | by Staff reporter

180 000 ZEP holders awaiting legal challenge outcome

None of the almost 180 000 Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) holders whose document expires on 30 June 2023 have made a formal request to the Zimbabwean Embassy to facilitate their return home.They have opted to wait for the outcome of th…

Published: 26 Apr 2023 at 06:47hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter

Twitter threats to litigants in Zimbabwean Exemption Permit court case

Litigants in the court case to stop the scrapping of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) have received threats on Twitter. Archive photo: Tariro WashinyiraThe director of the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF), Nicole Fritz, and her family re…

Published: 19 Apr 2023 at 15:54hrs | 2 | by Ashraf Hendricks

Why is South Africa not renewing 160,000 Zimbabwean work permits?

Thousands of Zimbabweans living in South Africa face an uncertain future and possible deportation before a June 2023 expiration of their work permits, following an announcement by the home government last year that there will be no extensi…

Published: 12 Apr 2023 at 08:24hrs | 5 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe to give counselling to ZEP holders returning home from SA

The Zimbabwean government says it will officer counselling to people returning to the country from South Africa after the expiry of their Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) to ensure their smooth reintegration.This, despite ZEP holders' low …

Published: 06 Apr 2023 at 06:50hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter

South Africa extends validity of non-ZEP permits

SOUTH Africa's Home Affairs Department has extended the renewal of permits that expire at the end of this month to December 31.The extension does not apply to Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders whose permits expire on June 30 this yea…

Published: 30 Mar 2023 at 06:34hrs | | by Staff reporter

Beitbridge ready for Zimbabwe Exemption Permit returnees

All officials in Beitbridge are ready to handle an anticipated increased human traffic at the border to facilitate a smooth return of their fellow countrymen at the expiry of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit in June this year.Over 170 000 Zim…

Published: 15 Mar 2023 at 06:40hrs | | by Staff reporter

Bleak future for Zimbabwe's returning citizens

ZIMBABWEANS expected to return from South Africa in four months' time after the expiry of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEPs) face a bleak future as the government has failed to put in place social safety nets for them to prosper back …

Published: 27 Feb 2023 at 15:52hrs | 5 | by Staff reporter

WATCH: Latest on ZEP holders in South Africa

Zimbabwean Ambassador to South Africa His Excellency David Hamadziripi has assured Zimbabweans who are under the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits which expire this year that the government is still committed to provide repatriation assistance fo…

Published: 03 Feb 2023 at 17:32hrs | 12 | by Mandla Ndlovu

Zimbabwe embassy invites ZEP holders to apply for repatriation assistance

Zimbabwe's embassy in South Africa on Thursday announced an online registration process for Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders who need assistance to return home when their permits expire on June 30.David Hamadziripi, Zimbabwe's ambas…

Published: 02 Feb 2023 at 19:40hrs | | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe schools ready to absorb children of ZEP permit holders

MOST schools re-opened smoothly yesterday countrywide with the Government saying it is ready to reintegrate children of Zimbabweans based in South Africa into the country's education system when they return home at the expiry of their spec…

Published: 10 Jan 2023 at 18:22hrs | 1 | by Staff reporter

Aaron Motsoaledi vows Zimbabwean exemption permit holders 'will be punished'

Expired Zimbabwean exemption permit (ZEP) holders who do not apply to be in SA legally must be prepared to face the consequences.Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi gave this warning on Tuesday when he appeared in parliament to provide …

Published: 14 Sep 2022 at 05:59hrs | 5 | by Staff reporter

SA's Zimbabwe exemption permit scheme is a money racket and a â€˜fraud'

The Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) scheme is the "largest case of fraud and theft ever committed by the government of one country over nationals of its neighbouring country in African history", according to court papers filed by the Zimba…

Published: 30 Jun 2022 at 07:02hrs | 12 | by Staff reporter

SA ministry accuses NGOs challenging Zimbabwe permits cancellation of wanting to 'dislodge' ANC government

The Department of Home Affairs has accused the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) and NGOs of trying to "dislodge" the government in response to the notice that the foundation intended to take the department to court over its handling of the co…

Published: 29 Jun 2022 at 07:54hrs | 3 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwean Exemption Permits holders' choice: Restart in a broken country or live undocumented in SA

THREE Zimbabweans who held Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEPs), which the South African government has now scrapped, share their anxiety and anguish as they face deportation, uprooting their lives and that of their children and starting al…

Published: 25 Jun 2022 at 08:42hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter

South African government breaking its neck

The recent verdict enacted by the South African government to decline the regeneration of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) is disingenuous and unscrupulous in more ways than one.Traversing over a cumulative period of (12) twelve years…

Published: 26 Nov 2021 at 09:36hrs | 16 | by Matthew Dube Esquire

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