By Staff Reporter
SOUTH AFRICA – A human rights lawyer has accused the South African government of “playing with people’s lives” following confusion over the future of Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders.
This comes after South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs dismissed reports that permit holders could apply for permanent residency, insisting they must remain on their current permits, valid until May 2027.
The reports, attributed to Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza, had raised hope among thousands of Zimbabweans who have lived and worked in South Africa for years.
Advocate Simba Chitando, representing the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Holders Association, says conflicting messages from authorities are creating uncertainty and distress.
“The unfortunate thing is the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs is a government representative, and he speaks for the government. What he said is completely different from the clarification I received this morning. It’s unfortunate, it’s playing on people’s lives.
ZEP holders have been in the country for a very long time. They ought to be able to apply for permanent residence like any other person who has been in South Africa for that period. Denying them that right is unfortunate and, in our view, illegal.
My view is that they should get permanent residence straight away because they have been in the country for more than five years legally, and that is not in dispute. It is clear Home Affairs does not know what it is doing, in my view.”
Chitando argues that long-term permit holders deserve a clear pathway to permanent residency, warning that the lack of policy clarity is affecting livelihoods and stability.
However, the Department of Home Affairs maintains there has been no policy shift, and all permit holders must continue to comply with existing immigration conditions
