South African Department of Home Affairs Extends Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) Until December 2023

The South African Department of Home Affairs has announced that the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) will remain valid until December 2023.

The extension comes after the initial plan to extend the permit for another five years was changed due to political considerations.

Originally, the permit was intended to be extended for a longer period, but the South African cabinet decided to adopt a shorter extension in six-month blocks.

This decision was influenced by the politics surrounding immigration, particularly in light of the recent midterm elections where an anti-immigrant party gained significant support.

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While the latest extension provides some relief for Zimbabweans residing in South Africa, there are concerns about the future beyond December.

With South Africa’s next general elections scheduled for 2024, the fate of the Zimbabwean community remains uncertain.

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has extended the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) to December 2023.

The first permit extension was ending in June 2023.

Originally, the permit was meant to be extended by another 5 years last year after a cabinet committee recommended a… pic.twitter.com/N5xe9Y3dgA

— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) June 8, 2023