Picture supplied : Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber has issued a directive, extending the validity of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) for an additional 18 months.
Permits
The South African Department of Home Affairs has extended the validity of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) for an additional 18 months.
This follows a directive issued by Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, which extends the current ZEPs by an additional 18 months beyond their original expiry date of 28 November 2025. The extension comes as the government continues consultations on the future of the permit system.
The directive confirms that the extension is provisional, pending the outcome of ongoing deliberations by the Immigration Advisory Board (IAB), which was appointed on 1 April 2025. According to Schreiber, the IAB has already held several meetings to explore both interim measures and long-term policy options for ZEP holders.
Until a final decision is made, Schreiber has instructed that no ZEP holder may be arrested, detained, deported, or ordered to leave the country under Section 34 of the Immigration Act solely on the grounds of not holding a valid exemption certificate.
He further clarified that ZEP holders will be allowed to enter and exit South Africa under Section 9 of the Immigration Act, read with the Immigration Regulations of 2014, provided they meet all other legal entry and exit requirements—excluding the need for a visa endorsed in their passport.
In addition, ZEP holders applying for any category of temporary residence visa under Section 10(2) of the Act will not be required to present a valid exemption certificate, visa, or authorisation letter in order to remain in the country. This also means that ZEP holders will not be regarded as illegal foreigners under Section 32(1) of the Immigration Act while their applications are under consideration.
