Zimbabweans not to be randomly deported

South Africa was not planning to randomly deport Zimbabweans at the end of the year, a senior home affairs official says.

"We are not saying we are just going to take everyone and deport them to Zimbabwe," director general Mkuseli Apleni told SABC radio news.

He was explaining an announcement by Cabinet on Thursday to end the special dispensation for Zimbabwean nationals introduced in April 2009.

"We want Zimbabweans in our country to be documented," said Apleni.

"We are saying, if you are an economic migrant from Zimbabwe you have to get either your work permit or business permit or study permit, so that you are documented.

"If you are an asylum seeker... go through the process of asylum seeker... If you are not, then go back to Zimbabwe," he said.

Government spokesman Themba Maseko said the special dispensation for Zimbabweans would come to an end on December 31.

Apleni said he believed that would give Zimbabweans living in South Africa enough time to get their paperwork in order.

"We've put all the process [in place] to make sure that we are able to achieve the deadline."