The inclusive government reportedly endorsed a decision by the South African government to end a special dispensation that allowed thousands of Zimbabweans, to enter that country without documents.

The special dispensation was introduced in April last year after the economic meltdown, created by Robert Mugabe's policies, saw hundreds of thousands flee to South Africa.

With the end of the special dispensation set for 31st December, Zimbabweans would have to apply for new permits if they wished to stay in South Africa. Many would also have to have accompanying documentation issued by Zimbabwean consulates and embassies in South Africa.

But it has emerged that the co-Home Affairs Minister, ZANU PF's Kembo Mohadi, held a meeting with his South African counterpart Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, where they agreed to the withdrawal of the special dispensation.

The bilateral meeting which centred on immigration issues was held at the Castello De Monte Guesthouse, Waterkloof Ridge in Pretoria.

Dewa Mavhinga, a leading Zimbabwe human rights lawyer based in Johannesburg told SW Radio Africa on Monday that the meeting between the Home Affairs ministers from the two countries took place on 17th June.

Questions have also been raised as to how the South African Home Affairs Ministry will manage to process applications from an estimated million Zimbabweans, in the four months that are left. There is already a backlog of 200,000 asylum seekers from Zimbabwe whose papers have yet to be processed.

Mavhinga, who is the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition's regional director in South Africa, said the decision to stop the special dispensation was ill-timed.

'We met today (Monday) with the director-general of the Home Affairs ministry who told us the Zimbabwe government, through its co-Home Affairs Ministers endorsed the decision to start deporting illegal Zimbabweans from December,' Mavhinga said.

He added; 'It's not only ill-timed but it is of no benefit to Zimbabweans who are suffering as a result of political persecution. What shocked many of us was that we were meant to believe this was a unilateral decision made by the South Africans, not knowing the Zimbabwe government knew from June that this was going to happen.'

There has been widespread anger over this decision, with many analysts pointing out that it sends a wrong message to suggest things are improving on the ground in Zimbabwe, when for most people living in the country there has been no change whatsoever.

There are no definitive figures on how many Zimbabweans are in South Africa, although the International Organisation for Migration estimates the figure to be between 1.5 to 2 million.