PRETORIA - South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has moved to clarify the future of Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders, following a week of conflicting reports regarding their eligibility for permanent residency.
Despite media suggestions earlier this week that permit holders might be allowed to transition to permanent status, the DHA issued a firm correction on Wednesday.
The department said consistent with the specific conditions of the exemption permits, holders do not qualify for permanent residence.
The confusion arose after media interviews with Home Affairs deputy Njabulo Nzuza, who suggested that ZEP holders should be "looking at other legal pathways" to secure their stay in the country.
While some interpreted this as a shift toward permanent residency, the department clarified that it is still in the process of consulting on a revised white paper regarding citizenship, immigration, and refugees.
“If they seek to stay within the country, then they must apply for other forms of entrance,” Nzuza said, reiterating that the onus remains on individuals to find existing legal frameworks to regularise their stay.
The ZEP programme, which began in 2009 as the Dispensation for Zimbabwe Permit, has provided a legal lifeline for thousands of Zimbabweans for over 15 years.
After the South African government attempted to end the programme in 2021, a 2023 court ruling declared the discontinuation unconstitutional, forcing the department to revise its approach and engage in public participation.
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The current permits are set to expire on May 29, 2027. The DHA has emphasized that current consultations are intended to ensure a final outcome that is “fair, transparent, and legally sound.”
Looking ahead, the department remains committed to a long-term solution. A detailed report containing clear recommendations is expected to be presented to the South African Cabinet by the end of the 2026-27 financial year.
For now, the status of ZEP holders remains unchanged: they have until mid-2027 to remain in the country legally under the current extension while the government finalizes its new immigration policy
