Major shift as South Africa plans permanent residency path for ZEP holders

BMA

Pretoria – Deputy Home Affairs Minister Njabulo Nzuza has announced a major policy shift allowing Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders to apply for permanent residence in South Africa, reversing previous restrictions that barred them from doing so.

In an interview with Newzroom Afrika on Monday, Nzuza said authorities are urging ZEP holders to consider alternative legal routes to remain in the country.

“If they seek to stay within the country then they must apply for other forms of entrance into the country,” he said.

The change means applications will now be considered on a case-by-case basis, with government saying the ZEP scheme was always intended as a temporary arrangement and holders should transition to other legal visa categories.

The move follows sustained legal pressure from groups such as the ZEP Holders Association, which has argued that long-term residents should be allowed to regularise their status through permanent residency.

Introduced in 2009, the ZEP programme has been extended multiple times and currently affects an estimated 180,000 Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa, many of whom have lived in the country for years and built families.

While the announcement has been welcomed by advocacy groups, it still requires formal confirmation, with legal representatives warning they will continue to monitor implementation and pursue further action if necessary.

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