Why are Zimbabwean migrants taking South Africa’s government to court?

“It’s quite challenging, because some people have been here and they were not going home…. And there are no jobs in Zimbabwe.” Yesterday Africa Daily spoke to some of the Zimbabweans affected by a decision to end the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit scheme by December this year. The permits allowed nearly 180,000 migrants to live, work and study in South Africa – but from now on they will need to prove they possess critical skills that are needed in the country – meaning unqualified workers will not be able to stay. Many of them have been in the country for 12 or more years. In this second part of a two-part series, Alan Kasujja finds out more about the court challenge that has now been brought, in a bid to reverse the government’s decision.

He also speaks to a spokesperson for Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF about what’s being done to give Zimbabweans opportunities back in their own country – so they don’t need to look to other countries for work.