On Friday morning, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber made a last-minute decision to extend the validity of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP).
This announcement comes just as the ZEP was about to expire on Friday, causing anxiety among many regarding their legal status in South Africa.
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Read: Confusion reigns as Friday Zimbabwe Exemption Permit deadline approaches
In a government gazette dated 29 November, Schreiber confirmed that the ZEP will now remain valid until 28 November 2025. He mentioned this extension was necessary to comply with the Gauteng High Court’s directive to consult with affected ZEP holders and other stakeholders about the future of this permit.
This decision refers to a previous court ruling reported by GroundUp.
Schreiber also stated that the Immigration Advisory Board will be reinstated to guide the department in adhering to the high court’s instructions about the ZEP’s future.
He added, “No ZEP holder shall face arrest, be ordered to leave, be detained for deportation, or be deported under Section 34 of the Immigration Act for reasons related to an invalid exemption certificate.”
Holders of an exemption certificate can enter and exit the country “as long as they comply with all other entry and exit requirements, aside from lacking a valid visa in their passport.”
Long queues
As word of the extension spread on Friday, numerous ZEP holders lined up outside VFS Global offices in Cape Town and Gqeberha, eager to apply for waivers that would permit them to remain in South Africa as their ZEPs neared expiration. VFS serves as the service provider for the Department of Home Affairs.
By Thursday morning, a queue stretched around the block at the Cape Town office just after 6 AM.
Many waiting in line reported to GroundUp that they had spent several days at the VFS offices either collecting or inquiring about their applications to remain legally in South Africa. They voiced their dissatisfaction with the functionality of the online booking system provided by VFS.
A sign outside the VFS office notified that it would be open on Saturday for individuals to pick up their waivers.
The Gqeberha VFS Global office was also busy on Friday morning, with around 80 people still waiting in line by 10 AM.
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A mother of three, who holds a ZEP, mentioned traveling from Cradock only to be told to return on Friday morning.
“I live far away and don’t have friends in the area… I feel trapped because I need to maintain my legal status here, especially with the frequent arrests by immigration officials,” she conveyed.
A mother and son from Cleary Park, who were turned away on Thursday, expressed their frustration after struggling to book an appointment for an entire month.
“We tried everything to get online appointments. At first, I thought my son just didn’t understand the process. We even sought help from an internet café, but the situation remained the same,” she recalled.
Chris Mapingure, chair of the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network, stated: “We are displeased with how Home Affairs has managed the requests from individuals seeking to renew their permits via VFS. Throughout the month, we have received numerous urgent requests from those facing difficulties in booking appointments.”
He noted that they have urged Home Affairs to grant an extended grace period to ensure that everyone gets the assistance they need.
Inquiries sent to VFS Global had not received a response by the time this article was published.
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© 2024 GroundUp. This article was first published here.
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