South Africa-South Africa — In a sweeping move, South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced the deportation of 19,750 undocumented immigrants, a process that has cost the South African government nearly R52.8 million (around US$3 million).
Zimbabweans make up the majority of these deportees, with over 7,000 Zimbabweans sent back in the 2022/2023 period alone, highlighting the dire economic pressures driving thousands to leave Harare.
The deepening economic situation in Zimbabwe is pushing citizens to seek stability abroad, even as host countries like South Africa adopt stricter immigration policies.
Zimbabwe faces skyrocketing inflation, high unemployment, and deteriorating public services, forcing many to risk deportation for a chance at economic survival.
Despite these challenges, the South African government has tightened its stance, notably phasing out the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) which previously allowed many Zimbabweans to work and reside legally.
On Wednesday, Zimbabwean Justice, Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi addressed these developments in the Senate.
He confirmed ongoing talks with South African officials but acknowledged the limits of what Zimbabwe’s government can achieve. “South Africa has its own immigration laws. Our role as a government is to advocate for our people’s needs through bilateral relations, hoping to find ways to assist them,” Ziyambi said.
The ZEP program, initially introduced by South Africa in 2008, offered temporary reprieve to Zimbabweans who fled during a period of severe political and economic turmoil.
Around 178,000 Zimbabwean nationals who arrived in South Africa before 2009 qualified for permits, which allowed them to live and work in the country legally.
The permits, however, are temporary; the latest extension, granted in response to advocacy and the political complexities involved, expires in November 2025 and will not be renewed, rendering holders ineligible for permanent residency.
As Zimbabweans face deportation or the looming threat of returning to an economically crippled nation, both governments are negotiating a path forward.
Ziyambi highlighted the difficulty of securing guarantees for Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa, but he assured that Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs Ministry continues discussions with South Africa’s Department of International Relations to find a solution.
For many Zimbabweans, the deteriorating conditions at home and uncertain status abroad present harsh choices, fueling further displacement and migration as economic stability remains out of reach.