The Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Co-ordinating Committee (ZEPCC) in South Africa has intervened to assist 120 Zimbabwean Grade 12 pupils who failed to register for their 2026 matric examinations amid xenophobia and bullying at schools.
According to TimesLIVE, the advocacy and support organisation has engaged the affected pupils and reached an agreement with South Africa’s Department of Education to facilitate their registration for the examinations.
The pupils will be accommodated at a boarding facility where they will receive revision lessons and prepare for their 2026 matric examinations.
ZEPCC national co-ordinator Edward Muchatita said the location of the facility would not be disclosed because of security concerns, but assured affected pupils that accommodation would be provided to those who contact the organisation’s academy.
The intervention follows a turbulent period in June when anti-migrant protests, intimidation and violence reportedly forced thousands of foreign nationals to leave their homes, with some fleeing South Africa.
Muchatita said some Zimbabwean pupils affected by the unrest had since enrolled in schools in Zimbabwe after being displaced from South Africa, while others remained hesitant to return to the country.
The ZEPCC is covering the accommodation costs for the affected pupils and providing revision classes to help them prepare for the examinations, according to TimesLIVE.
The committee has also appealed to Grade 12 pupils who are either outside South Africa or remain in the country but failed to register for their matric examinations because of alleged xenophobia to contact the ZEPCC academy for assistance.
The intervention highlights the challenges faced by Zimbabwean families living in South Africa amid continuing tensions over immigration and the presence of foreign nationals.
The ZEPCC represents and provides advocacy and support services to Zimbabwean Exemption Permit holders and their families in South Africa.
