Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2-minute read
11 June 2023 | 22:11 CAT

Image: GroundUp

Thousands of Zimbabweans living in South Africa under the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits can sigh relief after the Department of Home Affairs unexpectedly withdrew a directive it issued last month. The Home Affairs directive, issued on November 29th last year, gave permit holders until December 31st, 2023, to apply for alternative visas.

The extension affects about 180,000 permit holders who face deportation if they cannot find alternative legal permission to live in South Africa.

Sharon Ekambaram, manager for Lawyers for Human Rights refugee and migrants’ program, said that her organisation wrote a letter to the Minister on May 26th 2023, pointing out that the cancellation of the ZEP has placed enormous stress on people who remain uncertain about their future here in South Africa.

“Repeated short extensions expose the contempt that the department has for the thousands of people’s lives affected by a policy change that was not informed by any rationale or consideration of its impact. The Minister should withdraw completely its decision to cancel the ZEP,” Ekambaram said.

Sharon spoke to Radio Islam International on the reasons for withdrawing the special permit; Sharon said the Minister had indicated that the permit was never intended to be a permanent solution and may have been politically motivated.

“The decision came with no consultation or engagement with the affected people neither was there an appeals process,” she says.

According to Sharon, the mess created indicates that the announcement was a move of the populace which may have been to appease South Africans to win votes.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie.