Johannesburg �` THE euphoria that greeted the announcement by South
Africa regarding the extension of permits for thousands of Zimbabweans
has turned into despair for scores of the migrants who are yet to
receive their documents, almost a year after the process began.
The uncertainty comes amid a lack of clarity after the exercise, which
was initially anticipated to be concluded in a matter of weeks, has
dragged on for 11 months.
While some of the estimated 200 000 applicants in the Zimbabwe
Exemption Permit (ZEP) have received their permits, the wait continues
for a majority who are yet to get the much-needed document to enable
them to work, study or run businesses in the neighbouring country.
`This year has been a horrible one without my permit as I have lost my
job at a private firm as management say I am in the country
illegally,` said an applicant who declined to be named, fearing this
could jeopardize his prospects of getting a new permit.
`It has been a long and frustrating wait for the document. I applied
last October but there has been no progress at all. This worsens the
stress from the loss of my job,` he added.
Human rights advocates this week told CAJ News Africa how some
applicants had lost their jobs and bank accounts in the wake of their
failure by authorities to regularise their stay in South Africa.
`The atmosphere among applicants is now one of despondency and
desperation, especially as some of them are now being fired from work.
Others are also having their bank accounts frozen,` said Advocate
Gabriel Shumba of the High Court of South Africa.
`However, we are not aware what the reason for the delay is. Home
Affairs has of late not been directly engaging with stakeholders,
which poses serious problems of communication,` Shumba continued.
He added: `We have sought engagement with the Department (Home
Affairs) over this and await their response. That notwithstanding, we
have also raised these concerns in writing and they were sent directly
to the Minister and Director General.`
Malusi Gigaba is the minister while Thulani Mavuso is the Acting
Director General following the recent resignation of Mkhuseli Apleni
from the unstable department.
Three ministers have been at the helm of the department since the ZEP
exercise resumed last September.
Hlengiwe Mkhize, who had earlier succeeded Gigaba, was minister when
the

announcement of ZEP was made. Ayanda Dlodlo succeeded her last
October but President Cyril Ramaphosa re-deployed her in February,
paving way for the return of Gigaba.
It is believed the chopping and changing of personnel has impacted on
the conclusion of the exercise.
`We are worried about the delays in issuing out ZEP to applicants,`
said Ngqabutho Mabhena, Chairman of the Zimbabwean Community in South
Africa.
`We were told that the process takes about eight weeks now it has
taken almost eight months (Ed`s Note: eleven months). We have engaged
the manager of ZEP, who keeps on saying its work in progress,` Mabhena
added.
Visa Facilitation Services (VFS) Global, the outsourcing and
technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic
missions, manages the ZEP applications.
The company said it would be unable to comment on enquiries by this
publication as the Department of Home Affairs `cannot guarantee the
outcome or the length of time an application takes to process.`
`Neither can it guarantee the return of decision within a certain
timeframe,` VFS Global stated.
The company, which accepted ZEP applications at ten offices around
South Africa, said this was due to the fact that applications were
assessed individually and `individual circumstances` could mean
processing times might vary and result in longer decision times.
`Therefore you are requested to wait until a decision on the
application is taken since VFS Global does not have any control over
the processing time,` a spokesperson stated.
Thabo Mokgola, the Home Affairs spokesperson, contacted for comment,
said, `Kindly note that the Department will be convening a media
briefing to provide a detailed update on the ZEP process.`
ZEP was put in place of the Zimbabwean Special Permit (ZSP), which
started in 2014.
Applications for the new permit were accepted until February. The
permit is issued for a maximum period of four years, effective from
January 1, 2018 and expiring on December 31, 2021, notwithstanding the
date of application.
South Africa first issued special permits for Zimbabweans in 2010
under the Dispensation for Zimbabweans Project (DZP), which saw about
245 000 nationals secure the permits. V.2388

One of the highlighted topics: Critical Skills Visa.

- Key Insight: Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast track to working in South Afr...
- This matter relates to critical skills visa and its broader implications.
- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast trac V.6139
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One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

 V.6133
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6128
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
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A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

 V.6130
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On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

 V.6131
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The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6127
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1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
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Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
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