Thousands of Zimbabweans cross into SA illegally

In the aftermath of the Christmas and New Year holidays, thousands of Zimbabweans are trekking back, both legally and illegally, into SA where they reside and work, reports New Zimbabwe. SA is host to an estimated 2m Zimbabweans, who are seeking better economic fortunes there. From 1 January to 4 January, more that 10 000 Zimbabweans officially passed through Beitbridge Border Post, which is the only road entry into SA and the busiest port in the Southern African region at present. Authorities estimate that 20 000 might have entered through illegal means during the same period, Newsroom Afrika reported Saturday. Zimbabweans have been migrating to SA for greener pastures, fleeing the country’s tanking economy amid an escalating socio-economic and political crisis. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), more than half of Zimbabweans living in SA entered without proper documentation, a situation which is being influenced by the high cost of acquiring proper documentation back home. Working in SA is tough for Zimbabwean migrants as the host government is on a move to deal with illegal migration, which is believed to have fuelled high crime rates and unemployment in the rainbow nation. The South African Home Affairs has re-established the Immigration Advisory Board, which is now inspecting the employment of undocumented migrants. The board will also help with court consultation on the future of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit, which is set to be terminated in November this year.

Full New Zimbabwe report