Breakthrough in Zim-SA dialogue on permits

Breakthrough in Zim-SA dialogue on permits

Pretty Manyewe

Zimbabwe has secured a lifeline for its nationals based in neighbouring South Africa, through engaging neighbouring South Africa over the future of its nationals based in the country.
A few days after the Zimbabwean Embassy in Pretoria promised a favourable outcome in their engagements with their South African counterparts, it appears there is progress towards a solution.
The South African Government has extended the validity of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit Visa by six months.
In a press statement by the South African Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, the new exemption date will now be June 30, 2023, from the original December 31, 2022.
According to the statement, this extension has been made in order to to allow holders thereof to apply for one or other visas provided for in the Immigration Act that they may qualify for.
The extension also means that no holder of the exemption may be arrested, ordered to depart or be detained for purposes or deportation or deported for any reasons related to him or her not having any valid exemption certificate in his or her passport.
Minister Motsoaledi went on to highlight conditions under the extension saying, “The holder of the exemption may be allowed to enter into or depart from the Republic of South Africa in terms of section 9 of the Act, read together with the Immigration Regulations, 2014, provided that he or she complies with all other requirements for entry into and departure from the Republic, save for the reason of not having valid permit indicated in his or her passport.”
“No holder of exemption should be required to produce a valid exemption certificate and an authorisation letter to remain in the Republic contemplated in section 32(2) of the Immigration Act when making an application for any category of the visas, including temporary residence visa,” he said.
Zimbabweans in South Africa were urged to make use of this window of opportunity and not wait for the last moment to lodge their applications.