On 8 June 2023, the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, announced the extension of the validity of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) to 31 December 2023. This welcomed decision provides some relief for nearly 180,000 ZEP holders whose futures remained unclear but a few days ago.
The national Critical Skills List is a gazetted publication listing all skills that the South African government deems necessary to stimulate economic growth, but which cannot be sourced within the country. The list was previously updated in 2014 and again, only recently, in February and August 2022.
The Budget 2023/24 last week contained one very frank, but also deeply worrying, acknowledgement on how frustrated government and foreign investors have become with the South African Home Affairs.
Will President Ramaphosa’s SONA announcement on reforms to attract foreign talent really benefit South African critical skills employers? “We certainly welcome these initiatives as a win for organisations that are desperate to acquire scarce skills that are not available locally,” says Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director at Xpatweb.
Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders should take advantage of the 6-month extension granted by the South African government to apply for a mainstream visa or exemption.
A +33% global net employment outlook is being tempered by the highest levels of worldwide talent shortages in 16 years. This is according to the ManpowerGroup’s Employment Outlook Survey for Q3, 2022.
The Department of Home Affairs (“DHA”) granted a final extension to 30 June 2023 for all individuals holding a Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (“ZEP”). The minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, reiterated the point that the exemption will not be extended again, and this provides an opportunity for employers to retain their Zimbabwean employees legally.
It’s Never Been Easier to Submit a Visa Application!
Anyone who acquires citizenship in another country will automatically lose their South African citizenship. This includes all rights and privileges associated with being a South African citizen, including losing your right to a South African passport, one’s right to vote, etc.
The government’s official Critical Skills List was fully released in February this year and, already, an adjusted list was published earlier this month. However, employers cannot afford to become complacent.
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