According
to
Ngqabutho
Mabhena,
the
chairperson
of
the
Zimbabwe
Community
in
South
Africa,
the
closure
of
accounts
has
impacted
many
Zimbabweans
living
in
South
Africa,
who
rely
on
these
accounts
for
day-to-day
financial
transactions
and
remittances
to
their
families
in
Zimbabwe.
On
November
28,
2024,
just
as
the
ZEP
was
set
to
expire,
South
African
Home
Affairs
Minister
Leon
Schreiber
announced
that
the
validity
of
the
permits
would
be
extended
for
an
additional
12
months,
until
November
28,
2025.
This
decision
provided
relief
to
thousands
of
Zimbabweans
living
in
South
Africa
under
the
ZEP
status,
allowing
them
more
time
to
adjust
their
status
or
make
alternative
arrangements.
Despite
the
government’s
extension
of
the
ZEP
validity,
the
closure
of
bank
accounts
has
raised
questions
about
the
interpretation
of
the
extension
and
the
treatment
of
Zimbabweans
living
in
South
Africa.
In
his
statement,
Mabhena
called
on
permit
holders
to
take
directive
15
of
2024
to
their
branches
so
they
can
receive
assistance.