ZEP case set for SA high court in April

Several Zimbabwean Exemption Permit holders and representatives from different advocacy groups attended a dialogue this week in the build-up to their case opposing the South African government’s decision to no longer extend the validity of the permit. (Photo: Tariro Washinyira)

GroundUp- The Minister of Home Affairs failed to consider the Constitutional rights of children born and raised in South Africa in the decision to scrap the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP).

This is according to the advocate representing ZEP holders in the case challenging the government’s decision. The advocate highlighted that for many of these children, “South Africa is the only country they know.”

He was speaking at an event in Cape Town on Wednesday with other lobby organisations and ZEP holders. The event was organised by the UCT Refugee Rights Unit and the Centre for European Policy Studies.

On Wednesday, one of the advocates for the applicants in the HSF court bid told GroundUp that the case is set to be heard at the high court in Pretoria from 11 to 14 April.

“The core relief is to get the decision to terminate the ZEP set aside and that some form of interim measures be in place to protect ZEP holders until the minister can take a proper decision,” he said.

The advocate added that the Allied Strikers Forum of South Africa and Operation Dudula are trying to join the state as respondents in the case.