South Africa Opens Permanent Residency Path For ZEP Holders In Major Policy Shift

In a major immigration policy shift with far-reaching implications for hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans living in South Africa, holders of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) are now being encouraged to apply for permanent residency and other mainstream visas, ending years of uncertainty over their future.

By Advent Shoko

Deputy Home Affairs Minister Njabulo Nzuza confirmed that the ZEP was always intended as a temporary arrangement, and those wishing to remain in South Africa must now pursue formal legal pathways, including permanent residence, work visas, business permits and other qualifying immigration categories.

Speaking on the issue, Nzuza said:

“They can apply for permanent residence and so on… each and every person must apply, and then we determine if they qualify.”

Crucially, the government stressed this is not a blanket regularisation. ZEP holders will not automatically become permanent residents simply by virtue of holding the permit. Every application will be assessed on merit, based on eligibility under South Africa’s immigration laws.

The announcement marks a significant victory for long-running legal and advocacy efforts led by immigration lawyer Simba Chitando, who has spent the past four years challenging the uncertainty surrounding the ZEP regime and pushing for a lawful route to long-term status for affected Zimbabweans. Earlier legal battles had centred on the risk of mass deportations and the abrupt termination of the permit system.

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For many Zimbabweans, this development offers long-awaited relief. South Africa is home to hundreds of thousands of Zimbabwean nationals who migrated for work, education and safety during Zimbabwe’s prolonged economic and political crises. Many have built families, careers and businesses over more than a decade.

However, the policy shift is also likely to intensify political debate around migration, labour markets and border control in South Africa, particularly amid growing pressure from anti-immigration groups.

The bigger message is clear: the era of relying solely on ZEP renewals is drawing to a close. For Zimbabweans seeking to stay, the path forward now lies in formal visa conversion and permanent residence applications, with possible citizenship eligibility after the required residency period under South African law.