Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi Extends the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits for Another 6 Months

• The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has announced the department's decision to extend Zimbabwean Exemption Permits
• The permits have been extended until the end of the year, meaning permit holders can leave and re-enter South Africa without many worries
• Many South Africans are unhappy with the Home Affairs Department's six-month extension

JOHANNESBURG - The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has once again to extend the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) for another six months.

The permits were initially supposed to expire on 20 June 2023 but were given a longer lifeline until the end of December.

ZEP extension means Zimbabwean nationals can leave and re-enter South Africa freely

According to TimesLIVE, the permit extension means ZEP holders can return to South Africa from Zimbabwe if they comply with the necessary requirements.

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Motsoaledi said permit holders would not be required to produce a valid exemption certificate/permit when applying for any visa in South Africa, including a temporary residence visa.

Home Affairs hires more officials to assist with visa applications

According to The Citizen, Home Affairs has not been able to process all the visa applications from ZEP holders. As a result, the department has decided to hire more officials to expedite the process.

Motsoaledi stated that the South African government has been working with the United Nations to deal with ZEP applications. The minister says the UN has helped the department with money to hire more people.

“They’ve helped us with money and we’ve hired people to help, even Treasury has given us extra money to hire more people,” said Motsoaledi.

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According to TimesLIVE, the Department of Home Affairs has been handling at least 1 500 visa applications from ZEP holders daily since the announcement that the permits would be scrapped.

South Africans weigh in on the ZEP extension

@ImVeeMk said:

"If they had just given them permanent residence, this fiasco would have been forgotten a long time ago. Maybe they should just restart the entire process they did in 2010, but this time, make sure the laws are clear, and the applicants know exactly what will happen after 5 years."

@Unahinanaye remarked:

"We should worry about those who are without permits rather than those with legal documents to be here. But I guess thinking is not for everyone."

@pholoho_Mpiti commented:

"Never-ending."

@TheReal_Mp_ho said:

"Aaron Motsoaledi is all talk and no action, we are led by a weak man."

@Mjselimo said:

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"It's ok, @MYANC is showing us (South Africans) the middle finger. We will do the same next year.."

ANC’s Lindiwe Zulu speaks on Zimbabwean exemption permits, says each country must look after its own citizens

Briefly News previously reported that Lindiwe Zulu, the chairperson of the African National Congress(ANC) subcommittee of international relations, has explained the decision behind the termination of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit.

During a media briefing, Zulu explained that she has heard that people are saying that the government is sending Zimbabweans back home to starve, but the ANC believes that each country should be taking care of their own citizens.

According to TimesLIVE, Zulu stated the South African government takes care of its own citizens even when faced with many challenges, such as poverty, unemployment and inequality.

Source: Briefly News