The men completed a one-year prison sentence on Tuesday and were formally released Thursday, but have been forced to stay in the prison compound since then.
The men's lawyers said Zimbabwean officials have given a series of excuses - ranging from questions about how the men would be transported to South Africa to the need to buy film for identity pictures - to delay their release.
Lawyer Alwyn Griebenow said he was particularly concerned about the condition of one of the men, who had tuberculosis and was so emaciated and weak that he could not walk without aid. "He's a very sick man," Griebenow told the South African Press Association.
South African authorities said they would not intervene.
"It's not our call. If the authorities categorize them as high security, they can't set a public date, time and venue for the release," said Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.
Heard today that the flight engineer,s wife applied at the SA embassy in Harare to see her husband on Monday, this application was not approved and the reason given was:- "that to approve it would be acknowleding that they have a free man in custody"........ Just shows you ... they are not as stupid as you think ...... ?
Angry language removed