The South African Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that holders of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) may now apply for permanent residency through existing legal channels. ()
Deputy Home Affairs Minister Njabulo Nzuza said applications will be handled case by case, stressing that this is not an automatic blanket conversion for all permit holders. ()
The move provides a major legal pathway for thousands of Zimbabweans who have lived and worked in South Africa for more than a decade under the temporary ZEP framework.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber had previously extended the validity of existing ZEPs to May 2027, giving holders more time to regularise their stay. ()
Community leaders and activists have welcomed the decision as a major victory for long-term Zimbabwean residents, saying it brings greater stability for families, workers, and businesses.
Those who successfully obtain permanent residency may later become eligible to apply for South African citizenship, subject to the country’s legal requirements.
