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IMMIGRATION: ZIMBABWE, LESOTHO SPECIAL PERMITS EXTENSION UNPACKED
- 08 October 2025
- Home Affairs
- SA Legal Academy
A directive issued by Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber extending to 28 May 2027 the validity of exemption permits held by Zimbabwean nationals under the 2002 Immigration Act has been described as a ‘significant policy shift’ in a Zimbabwe News article that includes valuable background information.
A separate ministerial directive has extended the validity of exemption permits held by Lesotho nationals to the same date.
At the time of writing, the Minister had yet to issue an official media statement on either directive. However, according to another Zimbabwe News article featured in The South African, an Immigration Advisory Board appointed in April 2025:
- ‘has been discussing long-term solutions for Zimbabwean exemption permit holders’, but
- has yet to establish ‘a permanent framework to address … (their) status.
The Minister is quoted as having acknowledged that ‘critical stakeholders will need to be part of a consultation process’ apparently understood to be fundamental to resolving the matter.
Regarding the exemption permits held by Lesotho nationals, a media statement issued in December 2023 by former Home Affairs Minister Aaton Motsoaledi notes, among other things, that the system was introduced in 2015 principally to ‘ease the burden’ on South Africa’s asylum seeker system given that ‘most affected Lesotho nationals were … economic migrants’ at the time.
By contrast, the Zimbabwe exemption permit programme evolved from the ‘special dispensation’ granted to Zimbabweans in South Africa illegally having ‘fled violence and instability’ in their home country. The special dispensation was replaced with special permits in 2014 and again in 2017 with the introduction of exemption permits.
- Zimbabwean nationals’ permit validity extension directive
- Lesotho nationals’ permit validity extension directive
- Zimbabwe News article
- The South African article
- December 2023 ministerial media statement
Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch
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