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Despite an overall decline in area, extent and quality of habitat this species has a large geographical range and is thus not regarded as threatened. However, if Z. v. arenicola is found to be a valid species, then the two taxa will need to be re-assessed, because Zygaspis v. arenicola would potentially have a small range in an area that is heavily transformed.
Endemic to southern Africa. Zygaspis v. vandami may also occur in adjacent parts of Mozambique and Eswatini (Swaziland). It has been recorded from Limpopo and northeastern Mpumalanga (Jacobsen 1989, as Z. violacea, Broadley and Broadley 1997, Bates et al. 2014) and has an estimated extent of occurrence of more than 205,000 km2 within the region. Zygaspis v. arenicola occurs in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal, northeastern Eswatini (Swaziland), southern Mozambique and southeastern Zimbabwe (Broadley and Broadley 1997, Litschka et al. 2008, Bates and Maguire 2009). Of particular interest are the isolated records in central and western Limpopo, which deserve closer attention.
A study in 2009 reassessed the same area surveyed for this species in 1973, reporting a tenfold decline in density for this species in the past 34 years (Pooley et al. 1973; Measey et al. 2009). Part of this same area in Ndumo Game Reserve has now been occupied for housing (since 2010), making this area of habitat threatened. Although estimates from more localities are needed, this information suggests the species is in decline.