Bulawayo24 News - Skyes! "it makes perfect sense"

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

Man fined for selling kudu meat without permit

A 62-year-old man, Samson Ncube, has been fined US$1 100 for selling dried kudu meat without a license, the Hwange Regional Court has ruled.Ncube was found in Lwendulu Village with 12kg of dried kudu meat, valued at US$480, which he was al…

Published: 27 Aug 2025 at 05:45hrs | 242 | 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

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

Zimbabwean exemption permits saga returns to South African court

The legal saga over the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) returns to court on Tuesday as the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) hears the Department of Home Affairs' appeal against a ruling that temporarily protected ZEP holders from arrest and…

Published: 12 May 2025 at 19:22hrs | 10307 | by Staff reporter

Nigerian man in court over forged Zimbabwe spousal permits

A 52-year-old Nigerian national, Kelechi Godwin, has appeared before the Bulawayo Magistrates' Court facing four counts of fraud after allegedly forging spousal documents to obtain Zimbabwean residency permits over several years.According …

Published: 24 Apr 2025 at 21:12hrs | 178 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe community radios in financial distress

Community radio stations in Zimbabwe are grappling with a sustainability crisis due to chronic under-funding, weak financial management, and infrastructural shortcomings, the Parliamentary Committee on Media and Broadcasting was told.In a …

Published: 02 Apr 2025 at 08:55hrs | 71 | by Staff reporter

SA extends visa, permit deadline for Zimbabweans

South Africa's Ministry of Home Affairs has granted a temporary reprieve to thousands of foreign nationals, including Zimbabweans, by extending the deadline for visa and permit holders whose documents expired at the end of March. The new d…

Published: 02 Apr 2025 at 08:54hrs | 301 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwean permit holders say life in SA has become intolerable

The Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Holders Association (Zepha) has urged the Zimbabwean government to facilitate an urgent voluntary repatriation programme for Zimbabweans living in South Africa, citing worsening conditions that have made life …

Published: 03 Mar 2025 at 11:57hrs | 1691 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwean CFO denied bail over fraudulent SA permanent residence permit

A Zimbabwean national accused of using a fraudulent South African permanent residence permit when applying for employment has been denied bail.  Kudakwashe Mpofu, 33, the Chief Financial Officer at the North West Development Corporati…

Published: 15 Feb 2025 at 18:36hrs | 3210 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwean airline start-up gets air service permit

Zimbabwean start-up Transvaal Africa Airlines has secured an air service permit and is working to finalise certification to launch passenger and cargo flights with three leased Boeing aircraft by the end of the last quarter of 2025, co-own…

Published: 18 Jan 2025 at 06:33hrs | 715 | by Staff reporter

Capitec closes accounts of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits holders

Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) holders in South Africa have found their Capitec bank accounts closed, leaving many in a state of uncertainty. The sudden move has sparked concerns within the Zimbabwean community in South Africa, particu…

Published: 01 Jan 2025 at 10:27hrs | 7794 | by Staff reporter

Mphoko remembered for his role in regularising undocumented Zimbabweans in SA

The late former Vice-President, Phelekezela Mphoko, has been hailed for his pivotal role in advocating for the regularisation of undocumented Zimbabweans in South Africa during his tenure as Ambassador in 2010. Minister of State for Bulawa…

Published: 10 Dec 2024 at 06:47hrs | 206 | by Staff reporter

South Africa extends validity of Zimbabwe Exemption Permits

South Africa's Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber has extended a lifeline to Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders, extending the validity of the permits by another year.ZEP holders were in a panic as the deadline for them to apply for…

Published: 29 Nov 2024 at 15:40hrs | 1653 | 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

885 import permits granted to ensure food security in Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwean Government has issued 885 import permits to 423 private companies to address food security challenges caused by this year's severe drought. The move aims to bolster the private sector's capacity to import grain for mealie-me…

Published: 27 Nov 2024 at 06:43hrs | 159 | by Staff reporter

SA assures Zimbabwe exemption permit holders amid new visa system

The South African government has sought to reassure holders of Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) regarding the newly implemented points-based system for critical skills and general work visas, addressing fears that the changes were designed…

Published: 23 Oct 2024 at 07:56hrs | 1406 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe permits resettled farmers to sell land

Zimbabwe's government announced a major shift to its land policy on Tuesday, allowing beneficiaries of its land reforms to sell or transfer their farms - but only to "indigenous Zimbabweans."Ministers speaking after a meeting of the cabine…

Published: 08 Oct 2024 at 19:46hrs | 6249 | by Staff reporter

40% of South Africa critical skill permits issued to Zimbabweans

South Africa has issued 4,913 critical skills visas since 2020 to nationals from over 100 countries, with more than half (55%) of those going to people from Zimbabwe and India.Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber revealed the information i…

Published: 16 Sep 2024 at 19:29hrs | 5287 | by Staff reporter

SA gives Zimbabwean immigrants lifeline

Vusumuzi Dube, a 48-year-old former lecturer from Gwanda North in Matabeleland South, has no regrets about his decision to migrate to South Africa in 2007. Dube, who was previously employed at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic in the Depart…

Published: 16 Sep 2024 at 08:13hrs | 1320 | by Staff reporter

Hope at last for Zimbabweans in South Africa

In November 2021, South Africa's Department of Home Affairs (DHA) abruptly announced that it would not extend the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP), leaving hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans scrambling for alternative visa options under …

Published: 11 Sep 2024 at 11:52hrs | 6707 | by Staff reporter

SA Home Affairs to clamp down on visa corruption

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said measures were in place in his department to clamp down on fraudulent activities in the issuing of visas to foreign nationals.He was responding to parliamentary questions from ATM leader Vuyo Zungul…

Published: 02 Aug 2024 at 08:07hrs | 989 | by Sgtaff reporter

Zimbabwean man got top job using fake SA permit

Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has called on the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe irregularities at the department.This comes after an illegal foreign national from Zimbabwe, Kudakwashe Mpofu, managed to infiltrate the …

Published: 19 Mar 2024 at 13:00hrs | 11 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabweans welcome another ZEP permit's life line

ZIMBABWEANS working and living in South Africa on the strength of a special three years' permit have welcomed its extension by the host government for another two years.South Africa's Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi on Friday fu…

Published: 01 Dec 2023 at 18:25hrs | 19 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwean Exemption Permits don't need protecting

Following a landmark ruling and repeated court procedures since September 2021, the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) felt the need to approach the Pretoria High Court again to reinforce the rights of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits.This action, …

Published: 12 Nov 2023 at 14:19hrs | 13 | by Staff reporter

Court dismisses Zimbabwean Exemption Permit application

An urgent application brought by the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) to protect the rights of Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders was dismissed by the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday because the judges said there was no need in law for …

Published: 09 Nov 2023 at 05:59hrs | 15 | by Staff reporter

'No reason to continue favouring Zimbabweans with a special work permit'

In the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Monday, the Department of Home Affairs argued that the government lacks a valid reason to allow the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) program to continue.Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and t…

Published: 21 Sep 2023 at 13:34hrs | 3 | by Staff reporter

Duty free entry for Zimbabwe Exemption Permit holders

ZIMBABWE Revenue Authority (Zimra) has approved a customs clearance system for South Africa-based residents who hold Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) to bring their goods to Zimbabwe on duty-free when their permits expire.Prior to that, Zi…

Published: 04 Aug 2023 at 06:39hrs | 12 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe exemption permit termination ruled unlawful

The decision by the Minister of Home Affairs to terminate the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit programme has been declared unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.Three judges, sitting as a full bench in the Pretoria High Court, have directed th…

Published: 28 Jun 2023 at 20:29hrs | 5 | 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

Zimbabwean migrants slam SA

LEGAL counsels representing about 170 000 Zimbabwean Exemption Permit Holders (ZEP) in South Africa yesterday said Pretoria's aborted plan to send them home was illegal.Simba Chitando, who represents about 170 000 Zep holders whose stay wa…

Published: 09 Jun 2023 at 06:51hrs | 13 | by Staff reporter

'Zimbabwean Exemption Permits extension due to influx of applications'

SOUTH Africa's Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoeledi has said they extended the application period for Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (Zeps) to December due to an influx of applicants.This comes amid reports that over 10 000 Zimbabweans dom…

Published: 09 Jun 2023 at 06:49hrs | | by Staff reporter

'Scrapping of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits will cause a humanitarian crisis'

With just a few weeks left until the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (Zep) expire, civil rights organisations have requested the department of home affairs to extend the deadline, warning that this was creating uncertainty for thousands of Zim…

Published: 06 Jun 2023 at 16:10hrs | 4 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabweans in SA edgy over delayed Zimbabwean Exemption Permit waivers

ZIMBABWEANS seeking to stay in South Africa have told Eyewitness News that they spent thousands of rands trying to get a waiver, but are still waiting.More than 178 000 Zimbabweans may be forced back home at the end of this month if the Pr…

Published: 06 Jun 2023 at 06:54hrs | 3 | by Staff reporter

Zimbabweans in SA fear attacks as permits expire

Zimbabweans living and working on the North Coast on the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) fear possible xenophobic attacks or hate crimes against them come the end of June, following the announcement that their permits will not be renewed…

Published: 11 May 2023 at 05:37hrs | | by Staff reporter

SA's scrap of special work permits, Zimbabwe migrants will be exposed

Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans have flocked to South Africa to escape economic hardship since the 1990s. The South African government has, since 2010, granted the migrants a special permit to live and work in the country. It's latest…

Published: 28 Apr 2023 at 07:03hrs | | by The Conversation

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

SA High Court reserves ruling in Zimbabwe Exemption Permit case

A full bench in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has reserved its ruling in the African Amity and the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit Holders Association's application for a notice to amend the relief sought in its challenge of Home Affairs …

Published: 15 Apr 2023 at 20:59hrs | 5 | by Staff reporter

SA court to hear challenge to Motsoaledi's decision on Zimbabwe Exemption Permits

The Helen Suzman Foundation's (HSF) challenge of home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi's decision to terminate the Zimbabwe exemption permit (ZEP), will be heard between 11 and 14 April, alongside two similar applications from the Zimbabw…

Published: 09 Apr 2023 at 17:36hrs | 2 | 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

Zimbabwe embassy prepares for return of SA permit holders

THE Government has rolled out the second phase of engaging citizens in South Africa as part of finalising the process of a smooth return of Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders.The Zimbabwe Embassy will be conducting an outreach program…

Published: 08 Mar 2023 at 05:28hrs | 1 | 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

Over 1 800 arrested in route permits enforcement operation

More than 1 800 people have been arrested countrywide during the enforcement of route permits and timetables on intercity routes as Government and the police intensify the crackdown targeting bus operators who use fake route permits and th…

Published: 25 Feb 2023 at 06:45hrs | | by Staff reporter

'SA's Home Affairs lacks capacity to deal with Zimbabwean permit holder'

Immigration stakeholders such as the Helen Suzman Foundation contend that the Department of Home Affairs lacks the capacity to deal fairly with Zimbabweans seeking to regularise their stay in South Africa and therefore must be made to reco…

Published: 10 Nov 2022 at 05:02hrs | | by Staff reporter

No hope for Zimbabwe Exemption Permit holders?

THE National Employers' Association of South Africa (NEASA) has called on its members to check Zimbabwean employees' documentation ahead of the expiry of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs) in December this year.The Helen Suzman Foundati…

Published: 01 Oct 2022 at 18:56hrs | | by Staff reporter

Operation Dudula challenges ZEP extension

SELF-APPOINTED illegal immigrant watchdog Operation Dudula says it is heading to the apex court to interdict the Home Affairs minister's extension of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP).Zandile Dabula, national secretary-general of the move…

Published: 07 Sep 2022 at 06:47hrs | 3 | by Staff reporter

Anxiety grips Zimbabwe Exemption Permit holders

THE Government has reaffirmed its commitment to assist thousands of Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders who are living in South Africa as the 31 December deadline for the expiry of the special permit regime beckons. An insignificant pe…

Published: 28 Aug 2022 at 08:16hrs | | by Staff reporter

No hope for Zimbabwe Exemption Permits holders

THE National Employers' Association of South Africa (NEASA) has called on its members to check Zimbabwean employees' documentation ahead of the expiry of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs) in December this year.The Helen Suzman Foundati…

Published: 26 Aug 2022 at 20:49hrs | 12 | by Staff reporter

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