What does South Africa’s decision on special permits for Zimbabweans mean?

What happens now?

The South African government has invited holders of the special ZEP permits to apply for other permits “appropriate to their particular status or situation.”

At the expiry of the 12-month grace period in December 2022, those who would not have succeeded in acquiring appropriate permits will be required to leave South Africa or face deportation.

Other SADC states with special SA permits

*Lesotho Special Project (LSP): *

In 2017, South Africa issued 94 941 special permits to Lesotho nationals under an amnesty programme that mostly targeted people from Lesotho who were using fraudulent South African documentation. This scheme targeted persons who had entered South Africa before 30 September 2015.

Mozambican amnesty:

Between 1999-2000, South Africa offered permanent residence status to Mozambican refugees. A total 82 969 Mozambicans acquired permanent residence status, out of 130 748 applicants.

*Angolan Special Permit (ASP): *

In 2013, the South African government offered voluntary repatriation to Angolan refugees from the civil war. About 1 757 people applied for the ASP.

“Miners’ amnesty”:

In 1995, South Africa offered permanent residence to “anyone who had voted in the 1994 elections and who had been normally resident in South Africa for more than 10 years.” This scheme was known as the “miners’ amnesty” because mining industry records were mostly used to prove residence status.

This attracted 51 000 applicants, mainly from Lesotho.

General amnesty for SADC citizens:

In July 1996, South Africa extended a general amnesty to SADC migrants resident in South Africa.

Permanent residence would be granted to SADC citizens who “could prove they had continuously lived in South Africa since at least July 1, 1991, had no criminal record, and were either economically active or married to a South African, or had dependent children who were born or were residing lawfully in South Africa.”

This scheme was expected to attract about 1 million applicants, but only drew 201 602 people, with 124 073 being granted permanent residence status. Mozambicans dominated the applications.- Zimfact

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