Home affairs continues nationwide consultations on Zimbabwean and Lesotho exemption permit

The department of home affairs is currently undertaking an extensive series of nationwide public consultations regarding the Zimbabwean exemption permit (ZEP) and the Lesotho exemption permit (LEP).

In alignment with the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) of 2000, the department said it remains committed to a process that is fair, transparent, and legally sound.

Following previous legal challenges, the department said it is strictly adhering to the court’s directive that any final decision be reached only after a rigorous and inclusive consultation process.

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The primary objective of these consultations is to gather meaningful input from all affected stakeholders. This includes assessing the potential impact of any future decisions on permit holders, their dependants, and the broader South African public.

The department launched the consultation process with government stakeholders on April 14 in Tshwane. This was followed by public workshops in the Free State on April 23, a virtual session for the Eastern Cape on May 13, North West on May 19, and the Western Cape on May 22.

According to the department, the public consultations have brought together ZEP and LEP holders, community members, representatives from the agricultural and business sectors, traditional leaders, Chapter 9 institutions, and civil society organisations.

Further consultation sessions have been scheduled as follows:

• May 26: Mpumalanga – Mbombela (physical)
• May 28: KwaZulu-Natal (virtual)
• May 29: Northern Cape (virtual)
• June 10: Limpopo – Polokwane (physical)
  

The consultation process will conclude with a national consultation workshop on June 18 in Gauteng.

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The session will include civil society organisations and ZEP litigants, the embassies of Zimbabwe and Lesotho, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the department of international relations and co-operation (DIRCO), and Chapter 9 institutions.

The department said the public consultations will inform the development of a comprehensive policy position on ZEP and LEP. A detailed report, including recommendations based on stakeholder and public input, will be submitted to cabinet by the end of the 2026/27 financial year.

The department said it remains committed to finding a sustainable, fair, and legally sound solution to the matter.

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