South Africa’s Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi has extended the validity of exemption permits for Zimbabweans to 30 June next year.
The permits were set to expire at the end of this year, leaving thousands of Zimbabweans in the country with no choice but to return home or face being in the country illegally.
In a statement, the minister’s spokesperson Siya Qoza said Motsoaledi considered it had received very few applications by Zimbabwean nationals.
The permits were set to expire at the end of this year, leaving thousands of Zimbabweans in South Africa with no choice but to return home or face being in the country illegally.
“The Minister has carefully considered the request and decided to extend the period by a further six months, that is, 31 December 2022 to 30 June 2023,.
“Another factor considered by the Minister is that few Zimbabwe nationals have thus far applied for visas or waivers. To this end, the Minister has issued another directive,” reads the statement.
The department says the minister remains committed to affording affected Zimbabweans nationals another opportunity to apply for visas or waivers.
However, there will be no further extension.
“The department calls upon all the affected Zimbabwe nationals to make use of this window of opportunity and not wait for the last moment to lodge their applications as is the case now.”
