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Zimbabweans living under the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs) say the South African government is blocking them from applying for permanent residence, leaving them uncertain and distressed. Their representative body, the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Holders Association (ZEPHA), gave the blame to South Africa's Department of Home Affairs (DHA), saying it was deliberately preventing ZEP holders from securing permanent residency, despite their long-standing contributions to the country's economy through work and taxes, as permitted under the Immigration Act.
- Traffic authorities refusing to renew driving licenses and conducting targeted roadblocks to catch Zimbabweans without valid permits. - Increased police raids in communities with high concentrations of Zimbabweans. - Banks freezing or putting on hold ZEP holders' accounts, citing expired permits. - Employers terminating contracts of Zimbabwean workers due to pressure from authorities. - Denied access to Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and pension benefits for dismissed Zimbabwean employees. - Children of ZEP holders being barred from writing exams due to lack of study visas. - Zimbabweans, including pregnant women, being refused medical treatment at hospitals. In 2023, the Gauteng High Court ruled that DHA's decision to end the ZEP program was unlawful and unconstitutional, ordering the government to engage with the affected community. Despite this ruling and an extension of the ZEP program until the end of 2025, ZEPHA argues that many permit holders are unable to apply for permanent residence due to bureaucratic delays. Applicants must secure appointments with visa processing company VFS, but many have been waiting for months without success, raising fears that applications will not be processed before the deadline. ZEPHA contends that the hostile environment has left Zimbabweans in South Africa unable to reach their full potential. The association has appealed to the Zimbabwean government to expedite a voluntary return program, emphasizing that mass diaspora returns have historically contributed to economic growth, skills transfer, and national development. Originally designed to regularize the stay of Zimbabweans fleeing economic and political crises, the ZEP system now leaves approximately 178,000 permit holders and their families in legal limbo. While the South African government has repeatedly extended the permit deadlines, it has simultaneously signaled an eventual termination of the program. The ZEPHA memo, seen by MoneyWeb, paints a grim picture of the struggles faced by Zimbabweans in South Africa:"Zimbabweans are now forced to litigate when they go to hospitals, schools, universities, travel on the roads, and at the workplace." In response, ZEPHA has already launched a repatriation initiative to assist those willing to return home. However, it is calling for Zimbabwe's government to provide support in easing the transition, including help with accommodation, business opportunities, and reducing bureaucratic obstacles for returnees. The memo further highlights deep-seated prejudices against Zimbabweans in South Africa. While many South Africans acknowledge Zimbabweans as hardworking employees, their support rarely extends to granting them full legal protections. The memo states: "Many South Africans believe that Zimbabweans are hapless ZANU-PF victims useful only for their cheap, efficient, and trustworthy labor. Their assistance extends only to prolonging exploitation, but not to granting Zimbabweans the rights needed for dignified lives." Growing resentment has also fueled xenophobic violence. Zimbabweans are frequently blamed for job shortages, housing crises, and strained public services. This has led to the rise of vigilante groups that target Zimbabweans with robbery, assault, and even murder—often without consequences for the perpetrators. Political parties such as the Patriotic Alliance and ActionSA have been accused of fueling anti-Zimbabwean sentiment, while groups like Operation Dudula and Put South Africa First have actively led campaigns against Zimbabwean migrants. Such hostility tends to escalate during elections and times of national crisis, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing power shortages. On the other hand, South Africa's white minority largely attributes Zimbabwe's economic collapse to ZANU-PF's governance failures. The memo asserts: "The white minority blames ZANU-PF for ruining Zimbabwe's economy, forcing its citizens to flee to South Africa to escape poverty, political persecution, and maladministration. The mainstream media, which they control, have successfully sold the South African population the idea that Zimbabwe is a failed state that will never recover without them." ZEPHA argues that the ongoing abuse of Zimbabweans in South Africa has caused severe psychological and emotional distress within the community. Many now live in constant fear of deportation, violence, and systemic discrimination. Without intervention, the association warns, the situation will only deteriorate further. |
