The court application by Helen Suzman Foundation, along with the Zimbabwe Immigration Federation and the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit Holders started in the Pretoria High Court on 11 April and concluded this past week – where they challenged in court the decision by the Department of Home Affairs to scrap the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits, which would affect more than 170,000 permit holders.
The exemption permit system was introduced in 2009 under the Dispensation of Zimbabweans Project, which allowed some 250,000 Zimbabweans unlawfully in South Africa to regularise their status, allowing them to live, work and study in South Africa. This scheme was extended and renamed the Zimbabwean Special Permit in 2014 and the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit in 2017. In 2021, Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi announced that the ZEP system would not be renewed, though two temporary extensions were granted, most recently until 30 June 2023.
The Judges will now deliberate and hopefully will announce when they will deliver the judgment.
Hopefully that will be soon and Fedhasa will update members as soon as the judgement is made.
