ZEP holders face the stark possibility of having to return home come 30 June Photo Pexels
South Africa – In recent news, the South African government has announced that it will not be extending the validity of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) beyond June 30, 2023. This decision has left many Zimbabwean nationals, who hold these permits, in a state of uncertainty.
The looming deadline of June 30, 2023, has created a sense of urgency and concern among Zimbabwean nationals residing in South Africa. Once the deadline passes, those who hold the exemption permit will be regarded as illegal immigrants. This has left individuals like Mercy Dube, ZEP holder, who have built their lives in South Africa, facing a difficult situation.
For many Zimbabwean nationals, South Africa has been a haven for a better life and economic opportunities. However, the decision not to extend the exemption permits has put individuals like Dube in a challenging position.
The complex visa processes
Applying for a regular working visa as an alternative to the exemption permit is a complicated and expensive process. According to Dube, the uncertainties surrounding the process, lack of feedback from authorities, and the complexities of acquiring a general working visa pose significant obstacles.
“It is a very difficult and complicated process as there are legalities around it where a normal person without a legal background wouldn’t understand what it means. There are people who come across as agencies who are also exploiting and taking chances, pretending or claiming that they’ll be able to assist ZEP holders to apply for this permit. When they’re looking at their consultation just to get information, we are looking at about R1 500 to R2000 for just the consultation to get information. Sometimes people end up going to backdoor service providers to get information.”
Immigration lawyers are quite expensive and there are also employers who are hesitant to provide necessary supporting documents. All of this further complicates the visa application process. One also has to get police clearance and applying for the waiver has its own fee. In total, the visa application process can be burdensome, with costs totaling around R7 000 to R8 000. This amount is substantial, especially for individuals earning below the minimum wage.
SMread: Navigating SA’s Coal Debate: Energy, economics, and external influences
Opting for illegal immigration if the ZEP isn’t renewed
Faced with the possibility of being deported back to their home country, many Zimbabwean Nationals find themselves contemplating the risk of opting for illegal immigration. The fear of uprooting their lives, as well as the lives of their children who have grown up in South Africa, becomes a significant concern.
“My entire adult life I have been in South Africa and going back to Zimbabwe is like being reintegrated into the society that you no longer know. Things haven’t really changed. It’s still something that a lot of us would not consider to do. I believe a lot of us would opt to be illegal immigrants and just to try to find ways to navigate and live. We are hoping that the minister would change his mind and probably offer us an extension or consider renewing.”
For Dube, Zimbabwean nationals contribute to the South African economy through taxes and also contribute positively to their communities. Moving back to Zimbabwe will also impact negatively on children who have been born and brought up in South Africa.
“These children only know South Africa as their home. They were born here. The language they know best is one of the official languages in South Africa of which these languages are not offered when you go back to Zimbabwe. We all know that when you move from one country there is some evaluation that happens in terms of the curriculum that you’ve been studying in another country.”
Reintegrating into Zimbabwean society will not be easy for children and Dube worries it could destroy a child’s self-esteem.
Advocacy and hope for ZEP holders
Despite the challenges faced by Zimbabwean nationals, there are ongoing efforts to seek an extension of the exemption permit deadline. Court cases have been filed in Johannesburg, and civil society organisations have written letters to the Minister of Home Affairs, urging an extension of the permits.
“When the permits were terminated, there were about 42, if I’m not mistaken, civil society organisations that have tried to engage with the minister. Right now I think people have their fingers crossed and pray that the courts rule in favour of these ZEPs and also believe and hope that the minister will also be lenient with the ZEP holders to extend.”
The decision not to extend the validity of ZEPs has placed thousands of individuals in a precarious position. Going back to Zimbabwe presents significant challenges, while the complex visa application process adds further difficulties. Zimbabwean nationals are left hoping for a positive resolution through court cases and advocacy efforts. The fate of these individuals and their contributions to the South African economy and communities hangs in the balance as they face an uncertain future.
In a candid conversation with Inayet Wadee, Mercy Dube delved into the labyrinthine challenges awaiting ZEP holders as they contemplate the arduous journey of returning home and grappling with the intricate complications that lie ahead. Listen to that discussion here:
