THE Africa Diaspora Forum (ADF) has called on the South African government to stop supporting Zanu PF, arguing that such backing has contributed to the mass migration of Zimbabweans into South Africa.
Speaking during a submission at a public engagement forum in South Africa, ADF executive director and chairman of the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa, Ngqabutho Mabhena, said South Africa should draw lessons from political developments in its northern neighbour, particularly disputed elections and allegations of political violence.
“The government of South Africa supported the Zimbabwean government when it committed political violence, when the people of Zimbabwe clearly voted for the opposition,” Mabhena said.
He argued that support allegedly extended to Zanu PF by both the South African government and the African National Congress (ANC) indirectly fuelled a migration crisis that saw thousands of Zimbabweans relocating to South Africa.
“The government of South Africa actively supported the Zimbabwean government to an extent that we had thousands of Zimbabweans coming to South Africa and subsequently placing pressure on the asylum system,” he said.
Mabhena referred to the Zimbabwe Documentation Project introduced in 2010, noting that it initially contained only one major condition for applicants seeking legal status in South Africa.
“There was one condition in the documentation project, and the condition stated that the holder should not become a prohibited or undesirable person. That was the only condition.”
According to Mabhena, the requirements were later amended in 2014 during the tenure of former South African Home Affairs minister Malusi Gigaba.
- ADF urges South Africa to end support for Zanu PF
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He also questioned the credibility of election observer missions that endorsed Zimbabwe’s elections, arguing that many observer reports highlighted significant irregularities.
“If we look at the reports, observer missions consistently indicated that elections in Zimbabwe were flawed,” Mabhena said.
He urged South African officials and delegates to ensure that Zimbabweans are allowed to determine their political future freely and without external influence.
“We are saying that officials and delegates must understand and appreciate that, going forward, Zimbabweans must be allowed to elect the government of their choice.”
His remarks come amid continuing debate in South Africa over immigration policy, asylum procedures and the future of special permits affecting thousands of Zimbabweans living and working in the neighbouring country.
South Africa has long maintained an interest in developments in Zimbabwe.
In 2008, former South African president Thabo Mbeki brokered the Global Political Agreement, which led to the formation of Zimbabwe’s Government of National Unity.
Mabhena’s comments also come at a time when anti-immigrant groups in South Africa have intensified campaigns demanding that foreign nationals leave the country by June 30, regardless of whether they possess legal documentation.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has launched a stakeholder consultation process on the future of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) and Lesotho Exemption Permit (LEP) programmes following a landmark court ruling that halted the termination of the permits.
In a notice dated June 18, the DHA invited stakeholders and government representatives to participate in a Gauteng Provincial Stakeholder Consultation Workshop scheduled to take place later this month at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park.
The consultations stem from a June 2023 ruling by the Pretoria High Court in a case involving the Helen Suzman Foundation and others against the Minister of Home Affairs.
The court declared the decision to terminate the ZEP programme unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.
The judgment further ordered that ZEP holders be allowed to remain in South Africa while a proper public consultation process is conducted.
According to the DHA, the consultation exercise will take place during the 2026/27 financial year, with recommendations on the future of the ZEP and LEP programmes expected to be submitted to Cabinet by March 31, 2027.
“The Department of Home Affairs will embark on the court-mandated public consultation process in the 2026/27 financial year with the intention of making recommendations to Cabinet by March 31, 2027 regarding the future of the ZEP and LEP programmes,” part of the notice reads.
The developments come amid reports of sporadic xenophobic violence in parts of South Africa, raising concerns among migrant communities.
Several countries, including Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, have reportedly made contingency arrangements to assist their citizens should the security situation deteriorate further.
