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South Africa Extends Zimbabwean Exemption Permits - Again

South Africa's Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, has extended the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) for six more months.

The ZEP will now be valid until December 31, 2023.

This decision is in response to the high number of visa and waiver applications from Zimbabwean nationals, the statement says. ZEP holders will not face arrest, deportation, or detention during this extension. According to Motsoaledi, a permit holder will be allowed into and out of South Africa, provided they comply with all entry or exit requirements.

The ZEP was established during Zimbabwe's economic and political turmoil in 2008 and 2009 to allow Zimbabweans to live and work legally in South Africa. Over 178,000 individuals have held ZEP permits for more than a decade. In December 2021, Motsoaledi initially announced that the ZEP would not be renewed, but an extension was later granted to allow people to apply for alternative visas.

InFocus

Bret Meersman / GroundUp

(File photo)

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