By: Natasha Archary
An estimated 180 000 Zimbabwean nationals will face deportation out of South Africa as their Exemption Permit expiration deadline looms.
The South African government made the decision to cancel the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) in December 2022.
Last December, the High Court supported Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi’s decision to put an end to the ZEP’s of thousands of migrant workers.
A decision which would mean that in order to live and work in South Africa, those in possession of a ZEP will need to apply for a general work permit.
To obtain a work permit, one would need to have a certificate from the Labour Department, which would include the special skills list or a waiver.
Basically, the waiver would need to stipulate that the Zimbabwean worker is the only eligible one for the position they currently occupy in the country.
Those who do not qualify for the critical skills list, will as a result face deportation back to Zimbabwe.
In a statement, Minister Motsoaledi clarified that the exemption permits granted was and has always been a temporary measure, pending improvement of the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe.
The Minister is urging all Zimbabweans with the permit to use the remaining 6 months of the year to apply for one of the other visas applicable in the Immigration Act.
According to the Minister, the Department of Home Affairs has a special team to deal with the influx of applications for various visas by Zimbabwean nationals.
This comes as the Helen Suzman Foundation has launched court action on the department’s decision not to extend the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit.
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