APA-Pretoria (South Africa) South Africa has extended until the end of the year special permits that have allowed undocumented Zimbabwean immigrants to legally stay in the country.
The Department of Home Affairs on Wednesday extended the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits for a further six months until 31 December 2023.
The extension offers a lifeline to some 250,000 ZEP holders who had been given up to June 30 to regularise their stay in the country or face deportation.
The extension comes as the Department of Home Affairs has been struggling to process visa applications for the Zimbabweans.
“The Minister took into consideration the said factors, including (to a certain extent) submissions received from the affected Zimbabwean nationals, relevant officials of Home Affairs and other interested parties and decided to issue another Immigration Directive, extending the validity of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits for a further period of six months, ending on 31 December 2023.”
Initially introduced in 2009 as the Dispensation of Zimbabwean Permit, the arrangement sought to legalise the many Zimbabwean nationals already living and working in South Africa.
JN/APA