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The Department of Home Affairs has extended the validity of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEPs) until May 28, 2027, in a move that could affect thousands of Zimbabwean nationals living and working in South Africa.
The decision, announced through an official directive, comes just weeks before the previous deadline of November 28, 2025, when all existing ZEPs were set to expire. The extension, valid for another 18 months, is aimed at providing continued protection for permit holders as government consultations on their long-term status continue.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the Immigration Advisory Board (IAB) — appointed in April — had been tasked with leading discussions to determine a lasting policy solution for ZEP holders, many of whom have lived in South Africa for over a decade.
“It is essential that critical stakeholders participate in the consultation process to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable resolution,” Schreiber said.
The minister added that the IAB had already held several meetings to examine both immediate measures and long-term solutions, amid ongoing debates about how to manage the country’s migration framework.
In the interim, Schreiber has directed that no ZEP holder may be arrested, detained, or deported for not having a valid visa, provided they continue to meet all other immigration and legal requirements.
The directive further allows ZEP holders to enter and exit South Africa freely, so long as they satisfy standard border control rules — excluding the visa endorsement requirement.
The extension provides temporary relief to an estimated 178,000 Zimbabwean nationals, many of whom have built their lives, families, and businesses in South Africa since the first permits were introduced in 2009. The ZEP programme was initially created as a humanitarian measure to accommodate Zimbabweans fleeing political and economic instability back home.
Over the years, the policy has been repeatedly extended, with each new deadline reigniting uncertainty about the fate of thousands of families whose legal status depends on it.
While the latest decision has been welcomed by civil society groups advocating for migrant rights, it has also sparked criticism from opposition parties and policy analysts who accuse the government of delaying hard decisions.
ActionSA, one of the most vocal critics of the extension, slammed the move as a “failure of leadership.”
“This extension represents yet another act of indecision and weakness by a government that continues to avoid confronting South Africa’s immigration crisis head-on,” the party said in a statement.
“Our nation does not need endless extensions. We need decisive leadership, firm timelines, and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law.”
The party argued that repeated postponements undermine the country’s immigration system and create confusion about enforcement. It called for a clear transition plan that balances humanitarian considerations with national sovereignty.
However, rights organisations, including the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town and the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA), have welcomed the move, describing it as a “necessary lifeline” for families who risked falling into undocumented status at the end of November.
According to these groups, sudden termination of ZEPs would have triggered mass job losses, disrupted schooling for thousands of children, and left many vulnerable to exploitation or deportation.
Legal experts also note that the extension offers crucial breathing space while the government navigates complex constitutional and administrative issues raised by earlier court challenges.
In 2023, the Pretoria High Court ruled that the previous decision to end the ZEP regime was unlawful and unconstitutional, citing insufficient public consultation. The ruling forced the department to restart the process, further delaying a final resolution.
For many permit holders, the latest extension is a temporary reprieve, not a permanent solution. Some say they are relieved but remain anxious about what will happen when the new deadline arrives in 2027.
“I’ve lived here for 15 years, my children were born here,” said one Zimbabwean teacher based in Johannesburg. “Every few months, we live with fear — we don’t know whether we’ll be allowed to stay or be forced to leave everything behind.”
Economists warn that an abrupt end to the ZEP programme could have wider consequences for South Africa’s already fragile economy, especially in industries such as construction, domestic work, and agriculture, which rely heavily on migrant labour.
Despite the criticism, government insiders insist the extension is a measured step — one that balances compassion with administrative prudence while broader immigration reforms are still under review.
Officials have hinted that the IAB’s consultations may lead to a new visa category or a pathway to regularisation for long-term residents, though no concrete proposals have yet been released.
Until then, the directive shields ZEP holders from deportation and ensures they can continue working legally, enrolling their children in schools, and accessing basic services.
Still, the debate reflects a deeper national tension — between the country’s economic dependence on foreign labour and the growing political pressure to tighten immigration controls.
As the 2027 deadline now looms on the horizon, the future of tens of thousands of Zimbabwean families in South Africa remains tied to the outcome of ongoing government deliberations — a process that, for many, has already stretched across nearly two decades.
For now, the clock has been reset once more. But whether this is a bridge to certainty or just another delay remains a question no one — not even the Home Affairs Minister — can yet answer.
