South Africa’s refusal to renew Zimbabweans’ visas ruled illegal

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

South Africa’s refusal to renew Zimbabweans’ visas ruled illegal

9:23 CAT | 29 Jun 2023

File photo: Twitter / @LHR_SA

The high court in South Africa on Wednesday declared the government’s decision not to renew temporary residency permits of nearly 180,000 Zimbabweans living and working in the country “unconstitutional”.

Pretoria granted four-year visas to around 178,000 Zimbabweans fleeing economic and political crises at home in 2009, following violent elections.

The visas have been repeatedly extended.

But in 2021 the government said there would be no further extension after December 2022, opening the way for a mass expulsion of workers.

A South African rights and democracy NGO, the Helen Suzman Foundation, then took the government to court challenging the decision to terminate the permits.

The court ruled Pretoria’s decision “unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid”.

The home affairs ministry said in a statement that interior minister Aaron Motsoaledi will announce “further steps that will be taken, including appeals”.

The Helen Suzman Foundation hailed the judgment as being of “huge significance” for the permit holders “who have lived in South Africa perfectly legally for almost fifteen years”.

South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised economy, is a magnet for economic migrants searching for better job prospects.

But President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration is under pressure to create jobs for South Africans as the country buckles under 32.9 percent unemployment, one of the highest rates in the world.

“You can’t arrest, detain or deport Zimbabweans without valid Zimbabwean Exemption Permits,” rules South African court.

This came out after the Helen Suzman foundation had filed papers seeking an interdict which it won against South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron… pic.twitter.com/YIQs9e8Sy7

— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) June 28, 2023

Find the 67 page South African High court judgement stopping the arrest, detention or deportation of Zimbabweans without valid Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) in South Africa via this Telegram channel link;https://t.co/0E6TnEt1Ku pic.twitter.com/AnvaC5cK7F

— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) June 28, 2023

Zimbabwean Exemption Permit holders can breathe a sigh of relief. The high court declared Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s decision to terminate the ZEP Irrational, invalid and unconstitutional. It means that no ZEP holder can be deported. #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/Qh7kxA5OOH

— eNCA (@eNCA) June 28, 2023

Source: AFP