Last-Minute Suspension of Action for Holders of Zimbabwe Exemption Permits

On Friday morning, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber stepped in at the last moment to extend the validity of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP).

This move comes just as the ZEP was about to expire on Friday, leaving many concerned about their legal status within the country.

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Read: Confusion reigns as Friday Zimbabwe Exemption Permit deadline approaches

In a government gazette dated 29 November, Schreiber announced that the ZEP will continue to be valid until 28 November 2025, saying, “in order to fulfill the duty imposed on me by the Gauteng High Court to consult the affected ZEP holders and all other stakeholders about the future of the current dispensation.”

This statement referenced a court ruling previously reported by GroundUp.

Schreiber confirmed the reactivation of the Immigration Advisory Board to guide the department on how to comply with the high court’s directive regarding the future of the ZEP.

He also noted that “no holder of a ZEP may be arrested, ordered to depart, detained for deportation, or deported under Section 34 of the Immigration Act for any reason related to the absence of a valid exemption certificate.”

Exemption certificate holders will be allowed to enter and exit the country, “as long as they meet all other entry and exit requirements, apart from lacking a valid visa in their passport.”

Long queues

As news of the extension spread on Friday, many ZEP holders were seen waiting in long lines outside VFS Global offices in Cape Town and Gqeberha, eager to apply for waivers allowing them to remain in South Africa as their ZEPs approached expiration. VFS serves as the service provider for the Department of Home Affairs.

On Thursday morning, shortly after 6 AM, a line extended around the building at the Cape Town office.

Numerous individuals in the queue told GroundUp they had spent several days at the VFS offices either collecting or inquiring about their applications to remain in South Africa. They voiced their frustrations regarding the online booking system provided by VFS.

A notice posted outside the VFS office indicated it would open on Saturday for individuals to pick up their waivers.

The Gqeberha VFS Global office was also busy on Friday morning, with around 80 people still waiting in line by 10 AM.

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A mother of three, who holds a ZEP, mentioned that she traveled from Cradock only to be told to return on Friday morning.

“I live far away and have no friends here… I feel trapped because I must ensure I remain legally in this country, especially with the frequent arrests by immigration officials,” she shared.

A mother and son from Cleary Park, who were turned away on Thursday, expressed their frustration after struggling for a month to book an appointment.

“We tried multiple times to secure online appointments. Initially, I thought my son didn’t understand the system. We even sought help from an internet café, but the situation was the same,” she recounted.

Chris Mapingure, chair of the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network, stated: “We are unhappy with how Home Affairs has managed requests from individuals trying to renew their permits via VFS. Throughout the month, we received urgent requests for help from those having difficulty making appointments.”

He added that they have urged Home Affairs to provide an extended grace period for everyone to receive assistance.

As of the time this article was published, inquiries sent to VFS Global had not received a response.

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© 2024 GroundUp. This article was first published here.

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