ZEPcc moves to rescue displaced Zim matric students for 2026 exams in SA

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau

The Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Coordinating Committee [ZEPcc] in South Africa has put in place emergency measures to assist children of Zimbabweans who were displaced during anti-migrant protests and could not register for matric and other examinations.

In a public notice on Tuesday, the ZEPcc said it will transport affected Grade 12 learners back to South Africa before the end of this week and accommodate them in a boarding facility in Johannesburg where they will prepare and sit for their 2026 examinations.

The committee said the intervention was prompted by reports that many learners missed registration, withdrew from school or failed to rewrite June exams after being affected by xenophobia.

ZEPcc said it is calling on all matric and Grade 12 learners who are not in South Africa. It is also calling on learners who are in South Africa but failed to register due to xenophobia, those who deregistered, those who failed to rewrite June exams because of xenophobia, and those who are facing intimidation and bullying at schools.

The committee said such learners should contact ZEPcc Academy immediately so that arrangements can be made for them to be taken to a boarding facility.

The facility will provide accommodation and revision support ahead of the final examinations.

“We hereby inform you that the children will be going to South Africa before end of this week. They will be staying at a boarding facility in Johannesburg, reads part of the notice,” reads part of the notice.

Coordinators said many children of Zimbabweans who were based in South Africa, or who had been based there, had their education disrupted through no fault of their own during recent protests.

Some parents returned to Zimbabwe with their children while others remained in South Africa but could not access schools safely.

The ZEPcc team said it will work with the Department of Basic Education and examination centres to ensure that learners are registered and placed in appropriate venues. Transport, meals and supervision will be provided at the Johannesburg boarding facility.

Community leaders welcomed the move and said it gives learners a second chance to complete their schooling. Parents were urged to respond quickly so that travel logistics can be finalised.

According to the Department of Immigration [Beitbridge] at least 20 000 children returned home independently with their parent from May 28 to date while another 15 000 were assisted to come home with their parents through state assistance.

Some were in school children at various levels.