Confusion and anxiety are once again gripping thousands of Zimbabweans living in South Africa as uncertainty grows around the future of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP), despite its latest extension.
By Advent Shoko
HARARE – For more than 178,000 Zimbabweans in South Africa, the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit has long been a lifeline. But as its new expiry date of May 28, 2027 edges closer, that lifeline is beginning to feel fragile.
Recent guidance from authorities urging permit holders to begin applying for alternative visas, and where possible, permanent residence, has only deepened uncertainty, with many unsure whether they qualify or where to start.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber extended the ZEP by 18 months in October 2025, buying time for consultations and policy review. Yet for many, the extension has not brought clarity, only delayed a difficult decision.
A temporary solution running out of time
The ZEP traces back to 2009, when South Africa introduced a special dispensation to regularise Zimbabweans fleeing economic collapse and political instability. Over time, it evolved through multiple phases but retained a key limitation: it was never meant to be permanent.
ZEP holders can legally work, study and run businesses, but they cannot directly apply for permanent residence under the scheme. That restriction is now at the centre of growing anxiety.
Authorities have made it clear that the long-term solution lies outside the ZEP framework.
“We encourage all ZEP holders to explore appropriate mainstream visa options,” officials have said in recent briefings, signalling a gradual shift away from the special dispensation model.
Legal battles bought time – not certainty
The current extension follows a bruising legal battle after former minister Aaron Motsoaledi attempted to terminate the programme in 2021.
Civil society groups, including the Helen Suzman Foundation, successfully challenged the decision, with courts ruling that it was unlawful and lacked proper consultation.
The rulings forced government to reconsider its approach, but stopped short of guaranteeing the future of the permit itself.
Pressure from both sides
The policy sits at the intersection of economics and politics. Zimbabweans contribute significantly to South Africa’s economy, working in key sectors and sending billions in remittances back home.
But rising unemployment and growing anti-immigration sentiment have increased pressure on government to tighten immigration controls.
For ZEP holders, this creates a difficult reality: they are economically embedded but politically exposed.
A complex transition
Government has introduced a waiver process to ease the transition into mainstream visas, relaxing some requirements such as labour certifications. However, strict criteria still apply, and many applicants face administrative delays and rejections.
For low-income workers or those without formal qualifications, the pathway remains especially uncertain. Said one Zimbabwean worker based in Johannesburg:
“I don’t even know which visa I qualify for. We are being told to apply, but the system is not easy.”
Another one told Zigoats.com:
“I had critical skills permit, I went for permanent resident they rejected my application.”
Lives on hold
Beyond policy debates, the human impact is clear. Families face tough decisions about whether to stay, leave, or attempt a complex legal transition.
Some have lived in South Africa for over a decade, raising children who know no other home.
As the 2027 deadline approaches, the central question remains unresolved: will government create a sustainable pathway for long-term residents, or bring the programme to a close?
For now, confusion dominates. And for thousands of Zimbabweans, the clock is ticking.
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