A million Zimbos living in SA: Census 

Source: A million Zimbos living in SA: Census -Newsday Zimbabwe

SOUTH Africa is home to over one million Zimbabweans with many more still flocking to the neighbouring country to escape the deepening socio-economic crisis back home.

This was revealed in the 2022 Statistics South Africa census report released on Tuesday.

The statistics showed that there are 1 012 059 Zimbabweans in South Africa which translates to 41,85% of the total number of immigrants in that country.

Mozambique, Lesotho, Malawi and the United Kingdom account for the next highest number of immigrants in South Africa, after Zimbabwe.

The  five countries have retained their rankings since the 2011 census.

Most immigrants in South Africa are males and young adults aged 20 and 44.

Zimbabwe recorded the highest outflow of citizens leaving the country in 2021 comparedto the past, according to  the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) 2022 census report.

According to the 2022 ZimStat results, 908 914 people are living outside Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has in the past two years been battling an exodus of skilled and unskilled citizens, forcing neighbouring South Africa to put in place various mechanisms, including tightening its border security.

Pressure groups in South Africa have staged protests targeting Zimbabweans and other foreigners, accusing them of stealing their jobs.

Pretoria has stopped renewing the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs) which expired in December last year, and opted to give the permit holders a year to migrate to other visa regimes or face deportation.

Contacted for comment, Foreign Affairs ministry spokesperson Livit Mugejo said: “The government carried out a mapping exercise to South Africa at the beginning of 2023 to register all Zimbabweans on Zimbabwe Exemption Permits who need assistance.

“This exercise is ongoing through all our embassy offices in South Africa. All those affected and are willing to return are urged to register and will be assisted. I cannot givean exact number because this process is ongoing.”

The ZEP system introduced in 2009 by then Home Affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as a temporary solution to a growing economic refugee crisis relating to Zimbabwe. There are an estimated 180 000 ZEP holders in South Africa.