Last year Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) scheme would be terminated at the end of 2021. He then extended the termination period by a year to allow an estimated 178 000 permit holders to apply for alternative visas.
To date only 6,000 of the 178,000 Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders have made representations to the Minister of Home Affairs spelling out their personal circumstances and why they should be allowed to remain in South Africa, according to Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs.
Cabinets decision to end these special permits has been challenged in several courts however to date the future is looking bleak for these permit holders. Sadly, this may create humanitarian chaos and an economic drain within many South African businesses.
It is to this end that employers who currently have employees with the ZEP in the ZEP in their possession start to make the necessary preparations ahead of December 2022!
Article By:
Tiffany Reed: HR & SDF Consultant - Compliance Hub