By Advent Shoko
The Zimbabwean Consulate in South Africa has announced that a batch of passports applied for in January is now ready for collection, bringing relief to thousands of Zimbabweans who depend on valid travel documents to live and work legally in the country.
In a public notice seen by ZiGoats, the consulate said passports applied for between 15 and 29 January 2026 are ready for collection at its offices in Bruma, Johannesburg.
The consulate said applicants should collect their passports at 20 Ernest Oppenheimer Avenue, Bruma, and must bring their receipt, paycode, and a valid form of identification, either a national ID or an existing passport.
Parents collecting passports on behalf of their children have been reminded to bring the child’s birth certificate, together with the parent’s national ID or passport.
For applicants who already hold a valid passport, the consulate said the old passport must be presented for cancellation at a fee of R200 before the new document is released.
Those collecting passports on behalf of other people are required to produce an affidavit issued by the South African Police Service (SAPS) or an official collection letter from the consulate, along with all required documents and their own proof of identity.
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Passports have become a lifeline for Zimbabweans living in South Africa, especially in recent years following intensified crackdowns on undocumented migrants. For decades, many desperate Zimbabweans crossed into South Africa through undesignated entry points, often risking their lives in the Limpopo River, where some drowned or were attacked by crocodiles, while others lost money and valuables to criminals.
Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans currently live and work in South Africa. While Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders number in the hundreds of thousands, they represent only a fraction of the total Zimbabwean population residing in the neighbouring country, many of whom still struggle to regularise their stay.
The consulate has urged applicants to collect their passports promptly and ensure all required documents are in order to avoid delays.
For many Zimbabweans, a passport is more than a travel document, it is a key to safety, dignity, and survival in a country they now call home.
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