THE South African government has moved to ally fears of mass deportations of Zimbabweans insisting those in the country illegally do not need to return home in order to regularise their stay in South Africa, Home Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa says.

"There is no requirement for Zimbabweans to go back home. They can approach the Zimbabwean embassy in Pretoria or consulates in Johannesburg and Cape Town," Home Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said.

He was responding to NGO's concerns about the withdrawal of the special dispensation for Zimbabwean nationals.

The special dispensation implemented in April last year, allowed Zimbabweans crossing into South Africa the right to live, work, attend education facilities and access basic health care for a period of 6 months.

The dispensation would come to an end on December 31.

"Since the announcement on Thursday, there has been misinformation about the issue in the NGO sector and immigration experts," Mamoepa said adding that at no stage did the SA Cabinet or Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma mention that Zimbabweans have to cross to Zimbabwe to be documented.

NGO's advocating for refugees said the decision to withdraw the dispensation would result in mass deportation for those who do not have the means to gain legal permit.

Jesuit Refugee Service (JFS) spokeswoman Jeanette Lesisa said they were also concerned about the time frame offered to Zimbabweans.

"The time frame is four months. In this time, Zimbabweans must cross back into Zimbabwe, apply and obtain documents, re-cross into South Africa and apply again at Home Affairs for the relevant permit," she said Lesisa in a statement.

She said there were some questions on whether it was realistic to expect this to happen legally within a four month period.

"This process also does not address the fears and safety concerns of those who have fled from persecution in Zimbabwe," she said adding that returning to the country to obtain documents might be a life-threatening exercise.

In addition to this, some who have left Zimbabwe due to economic hardship may not be able to afford the processing fees, now posted in United States dollars.

Lesisa said the implication of a straight application or exchange under an amnesty, in terms of turning in counterfeit documents for work or study permits, does not address the fact that under South African legislation many Zimbabweans do not qualify for work visas.

This means that the plan to end the special dispensation would result in mass deportation of vulnerable individuals who do not have the means to gain a legal permit, but who have no support or survival strategies back in Zimbabwe.

She said the JRS would support initiatives that allow Zimbabweans to move more freely between South Africa and Zimbabwe, stimulating both economies through trade and investing their productive skills in building up socio-economic resources as a region.

Mamoepa explained that the process obtaining proper document would be facilitated in South Africa.

Pretoria and Harare would establish a joint monitoring and evaluation committee to oversee implementation of the process.

Issuing of various permits would commence between now and December 31, and the deportation of undocumented Zimbabweans would resume after this date.