Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

4 min read | 7:15 pm CAT

Panic has gripped Zimbabweans in neighbouring South Africa as the expiry date of their Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs) approaches.

Radio Islam International discusses the issue with Rights and Constitutional Lawyer Dr Musa Kika, a governance consultant widely consulted on migration issues. Dr Kika is currently the Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum.

Through several engagements with the Zimbabwean government, the South African government issued a permit to Zimbabwean nationals who migrated to South Africa over the years. Mainly due to the political and economic challenges faced in Zimbabwe.

There were earlier versions of the exemption permits granted in previous years, and the ZEP permit is an extension of the VISA permit dispensation started years ago.

According to Dr Kika, it is currently understood that the permit benefits around 180 thousand Zimbabweans on the license.

The permit was due to expire on 31 December this year. However, following several engagements with the South African government, a final extension was granted until 30 June 2023, and a further grace period of six months was given to permit holders.

Dr Kika said the push factors which allowed Zimbabweans into South Africa are still there, and to date, more Zimbabweans are seeing coming into the country.

“The grace period granted is important in that it allows for there to be an orderly winding up or transfer into another form of regularisation,” he added.

According to the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa, only six thousand of the 180 thousand had approached Home Affairs by September this year to seek to regularise their stay, change their permit, or seek another waiver.

He said this suggests that people either may not be that willing or have severe difficulties getting another type of visa.

There are many requirements an applicant must meet to qualify for another visa, and many Zimbabweans have moved to SA illegally out of political persecution.

Meanwhile, the six-month extension will not solve the problem because the time frame may need more time to obtain other required visas.

Dr Kika said the time factored in, even for individuals possessing the correct documents to complete the processing within home affairs will be a challenge.

In qualifying for a work permit, certain documents are required from the employer and clearance documents in SA.

“The process takes time and some of the documents may not be easy to obtain, we still anticipate in six months dating to 30 June 2023 most of the 180 will be without any visa and may face deportation”, added Dr Kika.

Listen below to the full interview with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat and Dr Musa Kika on Radio Islam’s podcast.