Life in SA

Everyday life in South Africa for people who moved here from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho and beyond: getting home for the holidays, buses and the border, SIM cards and RICA, renting a room without a payslip, schools and clinics, what to carry when you are asked for documents. Practical, checked against official sources, with the date we last looked. SOLmate is a money app, not a bank; where money comes into it, we say so plainly.

Life in SA

Work Permits for Zimbabweans in South Africa

If you hold a ZEP, your permit is valid until 28 May 2027. If you do not, the road to working legally runs through a waiver and a mainstream work visa. Here is the current picture.

Life in SA

Johannesburg to Harare by Bus: A Practical Guide

The cheapest way home is still the bus: about 1,100 kilometres, one border post and an overnight ride. Here is what the trip involves and why your money should arrive before you do.