The Zimbabwe Exemption Permit will remain valid, according to the Department of Home Affairs (ZEP). This allows people who were supposed to depart South Africa by December to stay a little while longer.
Christmas in Zimbabwe was dreaded by Zimbabweans since the Home Affairs Department was going to remove the exemption permits.
As a result, Zimbabweans who were in South Africa on this permit had to apply for new visas in order to stay there.
A minimum of 20 000 Zimbabweans who are present in the nation for economic reasons would be impacted.
However, Zimbabweans may now exhale—at least for the time being. According to spokesman Siya Qoza, this permission has been renewed by six more months by Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi.
This choice was made following a full-day meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Thursday (DAC). The impacted Zimbabweans’ visa applications will be evaluated by the DAC, which is headed by Dr. Cassius Lubisi, according to Qoza.
The DAC suggested that Motsoaledi prolong the time frame for which concerned Zimambwe citizens must submit visa or waiver applications.
But according to Qoza, another reason for this delay is the low number of Zimbabwean citizens who have thus far requested such visas and exemptions.