Zimbabwean Permit Holders Left In Limbo As Deadline Nears
The Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) has called on South Africa’s government to urgently clarify the future of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP), which is set to expire in November 2025.
Partnering with the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA), the foundation says thousands of Zimbabwean nationals remain in legal limbo as the deadline draws near.
In a joint statement released this week, the organisations raised alarm over the lack of communication from the Department of Home Affairs regarding the court-ordered consultation process.
They warned that the absence of clear direction is already causing serious disruptions in the lives of permit holders—many of whom have lost jobs, failed to secure school placements for their children for the 2026 academic year, and struggled to access healthcare services.
The statement noted that last year’s eleventh-hour extension had already left permit holders in a precarious position, and added that this year’s silence was compounding the problem.
It read: “Last year’s eleventh-hour extension left permit holders in a precarious position. This year, the absence of timely clarity has already led to devastating consequences.”
As reported by PoliticsWeb, HSF and CoRMSA have urged the Minister of Home Affairs to publicly clarify the status of the consultation process.
They emphasised that if consultations cannot be completed in time, the government must extend the ZEP well before the November deadline to avoid further hardship.
In their statement, the organisations stressed the importance of timely action, saying: “Such action is necessary to prevent further hardship and to uphold fairness and the rule of law.”
The ZEP programme, which has provided legal protection to thousands of Zimbabweans living in South Africa since its inception, has faced repeated delays and legal challenges.
In 2022, HSF filed a constitutional court challenge arguing that the termination of the permit programme was unconstitutional and lacked proper public consultation.
Advocacy groups continue to argue that prolonged uncertainty undermines the rights of permit holders and places families at risk.
With the November deadline approaching, pressure is mounting on the Department of Home Affairs to provide clear direction and uphold the legal obligations set by the courts.
