News / National
Confusion reigns as Friday ZEP deadline looms
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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 Affairs (DHA).
Under current regulations, ZEP holders must apply for a one-year exemption, which would allow them to remain and work in South Africa until November 2025. Those who do not meet this deadline or fail to secure the necessary visa or waiver could face deportation. However, according to the ZEP Holders Association (Zepha), the backlog of visa and waiver applications - many of which have been pending for several months - makes it impossible for many to meet the deadline.
Zepha, represented by Advocate Simba Chitando, has called on Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber to extend the deadline, similar to the extension granted by Schreiber's predecessor, Aaron Motsoaledi, in 2023. Chitando described the situation as a "self-created crisis" for the Department of Home Affairs, pointing to the bureaucratic inefficiencies that have led to delays in processing applications.
"The November 2024 deadline for the ZEP is yet another self-created crisis for the Department of Home Affairs. Many ZEP holders, due to bureaucratic constraints within the Department, will not be able to make the deadline through no fault of their own," Chitando said.
ZEP holders have struggled to secure appointments at VFS Global offices, the agency responsible for processing applications on behalf of DHA. Last week, Minister Schreiber acknowledged that some of DHA's systems were overwhelmed by the volume of applications.
"I have no doubt that he will have no choice but to extend the deadline again to avoid a catastrophic failure to document ZEP holders," Chitando added.
The ongoing uncertainty surrounding ZEP holders' legal status in South Africa has persisted for years. Currently, there are approximately 178,000 ZEP holders in the country, many of whom have lived and worked in South Africa for over 15 years. The previous ZEP permit expired in November 2023, and it was extended for another two years. However, the extension came with the condition that Zimbabwean and Lesotho exemption permit holders would not be allowed to apply for permanent residence.
This decision is currently being challenged in court, with ZEP holders arguing that the Minister of Home Affairs has the authority to grant them permanent residency based on their long-term stay and contributions to the country.
While the two-year extension provided some breathing space for ZEP holders, it has not eliminated the uncertainty surrounding their legal status or that of their families. ZEP holders were advised to apply for alternative visas, such as general worker visas, to solidify their legal standing in the country. Unfortunately, many have faced difficulties in scheduling appointments at VFS Global, where visa and waiver applications are processed.
Xpatweb, a consultancy that assists expatriates, highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by ZEP holders. "Unfortunately, it seems this deadline causes headaches for many as they struggle to secure submission dates at offices of VFS Global," said Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb.
In response to these challenges, Schreiber introduced a new system for issuing visas digitally via email, which has helped process over 60,000 ZEP waiver applications, many of which date back to 2022. ZEP holders who have received waiver letters via email can now proceed to submit their applications for general work visas.
To address inefficiencies and reduce red tape, DHA also launched a new points-based system for work visas in October. This system aims to combat corruption and ensure a more transparent and efficient application process.
Minister Schreiber has received praise for his efforts to tackle corruption and improve the functioning of DHA. Recently, 18 DHA officials were dismissed for offences such as fraud, corruption, and sexual harassment, while four others received written warnings. Schreiber emphasized the importance of these actions in improving the department's integrity and ensuring that applications are processed fairly and efficiently.
Despite these efforts, the looming deadline remains a critical issue for thousands of ZEP holders, with many hoping for an extension to avoid potential deportation and further legal uncertainty.
Under current regulations, ZEP holders must apply for a one-year exemption, which would allow them to remain and work in South Africa until November 2025. Those who do not meet this deadline or fail to secure the necessary visa or waiver could face deportation. However, according to the ZEP Holders Association (Zepha), the backlog of visa and waiver applications - many of which have been pending for several months - makes it impossible for many to meet the deadline.
Zepha, represented by Advocate Simba Chitando, has called on Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber to extend the deadline, similar to the extension granted by Schreiber's predecessor, Aaron Motsoaledi, in 2023. Chitando described the situation as a "self-created crisis" for the Department of Home Affairs, pointing to the bureaucratic inefficiencies that have led to delays in processing applications.
"The November 2024 deadline for the ZEP is yet another self-created crisis for the Department of Home Affairs. Many ZEP holders, due to bureaucratic constraints within the Department, will not be able to make the deadline through no fault of their own," Chitando said.
ZEP holders have struggled to secure appointments at VFS Global offices, the agency responsible for processing applications on behalf of DHA. Last week, Minister Schreiber acknowledged that some of DHA's systems were overwhelmed by the volume of applications.
"I have no doubt that he will have no choice but to extend the deadline again to avoid a catastrophic failure to document ZEP holders," Chitando added.
The ongoing uncertainty surrounding ZEP holders' legal status in South Africa has persisted for years. Currently, there are approximately 178,000 ZEP holders in the country, many of whom have lived and worked in South Africa for over 15 years. The previous ZEP permit expired in November 2023, and it was extended for another two years. However, the extension came with the condition that Zimbabwean and Lesotho exemption permit holders would not be allowed to apply for permanent residence.
While the two-year extension provided some breathing space for ZEP holders, it has not eliminated the uncertainty surrounding their legal status or that of their families. ZEP holders were advised to apply for alternative visas, such as general worker visas, to solidify their legal standing in the country. Unfortunately, many have faced difficulties in scheduling appointments at VFS Global, where visa and waiver applications are processed.
Xpatweb, a consultancy that assists expatriates, highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by ZEP holders. "Unfortunately, it seems this deadline causes headaches for many as they struggle to secure submission dates at offices of VFS Global," said Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director of Xpatweb.
In response to these challenges, Schreiber introduced a new system for issuing visas digitally via email, which has helped process over 60,000 ZEP waiver applications, many of which date back to 2022. ZEP holders who have received waiver letters via email can now proceed to submit their applications for general work visas.
To address inefficiencies and reduce red tape, DHA also launched a new points-based system for work visas in October. This system aims to combat corruption and ensure a more transparent and efficient application process.
Minister Schreiber has received praise for his efforts to tackle corruption and improve the functioning of DHA. Recently, 18 DHA officials were dismissed for offences such as fraud, corruption, and sexual harassment, while four others received written warnings. Schreiber emphasized the importance of these actions in improving the department's integrity and ensuring that applications are processed fairly and efficiently.
Despite these efforts, the looming deadline remains a critical issue for thousands of ZEP holders, with many hoping for an extension to avoid potential deportation and further legal uncertainty.
Source - MoneyWeb
