Final Stay of Action Granted for Holders of Zimbabwe Exemption Permits

On Friday morning, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber intervened at the last minute to prolong the validity of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP).

This decision comes just as the ZEP was set to expire on Friday, leaving many anxious about their legal status in the country.

Read: Confusion reigns as Friday Zimbabwe Exemption Permit deadline approaches

In a government gazette dated 29 November, Schreiber announced that the ZEP will remain effective until 28 November 2025, stating, “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 was in reference to a court ruling previously covered by GroundUp.

Schreiber confirmed that the Immigration Advisory Board will be reactivated to provide guidance to the department on how to adhere to the high court’s directive regarding the future of the ZEP.

He added 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.”

Holders of an exemption certificate will be permitted to enter and exit the country, “provided they meet all other entry and exit requirements, except for the lack of a valid visa endorsed in their passport.”

Long queues

As the news of the extension spread on Friday, many ZEP holders found themselves waiting in long lines outside VFS Global offices in Cape Town and Gqeberha, eager to apply for waivers that would allow them to stay in South Africa as their ZEPs neared expiration. VFS operates as the service provider for the Department of Home Affairs.

On Thursday morning, just after 6 AM, a queue stretched around the building at the Cape Town office.

Many individuals in line informed GroundUp that they had spent several days at the VFS offices to either collect or inquire about their applications to remain in South Africa. They expressed frustration with the functionality of the online booking system offered by VFS.

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

The Gqeberha VFS Global office remained busy on Friday morning, with approximately 80 people still waiting in line at 10 AM.

A mother of three, who is a ZEP holder, mentioned that she traveled from Cradock only to be instructed 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, given the regular arrests made by immigration officials,” she shared.

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

“We made every effort to secure online appointments. Initially, I thought my son simply didn’t understand the system. We even sought help from an internet café, but it proved to be the same situation,” she recounted.

Chris Mapingure, chair of the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network, commented: “We are dissatisfied with the way Home Affairs has handled requests from individuals seeking to renew their permits through VFS. Throughout the month, we received desperate pleas for assistance from those struggling to schedule appointments.”

He mentioned that they have implored Home Affairs to provide an extended grace period to ensure that everyone receives assistance.

Inquiries sent to VFS Global went unanswered by the time this article was published.

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© 2024 GroundUp. This article was first published here.

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