KEY POINTS
- ZEP holders can now stay in South Africa until November 2025.
- Home Affairs extended the permit after a court ruling required consultation.
- Long queues and booking issues at VFS offices caused widespread frustration.
South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber, announced a last-minute extension for holders of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP), alleviating concerns for thousands of Zimbabwean nationals.
The permit, which was set to expire on Dec. 1, had left many people in a state of panic about their legal status in South Africa.
The decision to extend the ZEP’s validity until Nov. 28, 2025, came just before the deadline and was prompted by a court ruling requiring consultations with ZEP holders and other stakeholders. This brief reprieve offers a sense of relief to those who feared deportation or being forced to leave South Africa.
Home Affairs steps in to prevent deportations
In an official statement released on Nov. 29, Schreiber confirmed that the extension would allow the Home Affairs department time to consult the affected communities and formulate a plan regarding the ZEP’s future.
According to Schreiber, no ZEP holder will face deportation, arrest, or be detained solely for not having a valid exemption certificate during this time. The department’s immigration advisory board will be reactivated to provide guidance on how best to comply with the court’s directive.
Despite the reprieve, many ZEP holders still found themselves stuck in long queues at VFS Global offices across South Africa. People rushed to apply for waivers in the hopes of securing their legal status before the permit’s expiration.
In Cape Town and Gqeberha, many individuals had spent days at VFS offices but struggled with the booking system or were turned away without assistance.
ZEP holders struggle with long lines at VFS offices
In the early hours of Friday morning, long queues had already formed outside the VFS Global offices, where ZEP holders anxiously waited to submit their waiver applications.
At one office in Cape Town, the line stretched around the building. Some applicants expressed frustration over technical glitches in the online booking system, which made it difficult to secure appointments.
According to New Zimbabwe, a mother of three from Cradock shared her frustrations, explaining that she had traveled long distances only to be told to return the following day.
While some expressed relief over the ZEP extension, others felt frustrated by the lack of resources and the inefficiencies at VFS offices.
Many, including Chris Mapingure of the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network, criticized Home Affairs for failing to provide sufficient support and urged for a grace period to allow everyone to apply for their waivers in time. Some applicants claimed they had been unable to book appointments despite trying for weeks.
