Zimpapers Logo

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The second batch of 800 Zimbabweans deported from South Africa is expected to arrive in the country by train tomorrow morning, an official has said. The deportees were rounded up for violating South Africa’s immigration laws.

The first group of 796 (all male) arrived in the country via Beitbridge Border Post on June 3.

This brings to 8 750 the total number of people who have been deported from South Africa since the beginning of the year.

Zimbabwe’s consul general to South Africa Mr Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro said the documentation of those due for deportation was completed yesterday.

He said the group will be left at the National Railways of Zimbabwe station adjacent to the Government-run reception and support centre which has a carrying capacity of 1 000 people at any given time.

“We expect them to leave Johannesburg on Thursday and arrive in Zimbabwe the next morning. There are over 800 people due for deportation, but we will have the exact number by end of day tomorrow (today) upon completion of the documentation processes,” he said.

He said they had agreed in principle with the South African Home Affairs department that children and women will always be deported in buses.

He added that the train was introduced as a way of de-congesting the swelling numbers of illegal immigrants at Lindelani Transit Holding Centre.

He said the train will only be used in cases where there will be larger numbers of people at the centre.

Mr Mukonoweshuro reiterated the need for Zimbabweans travelling to South Africa to always ensure that they are properly documented.

“Those travelling with children must be aware of the new requirements of long birth certificates and the requisite affidavits if only one of them (parents) is travelling with a minor,” he said.

Beitbridge Civil Protection Unit chairperson Mr Simon Muleya said they had put all systems in place and were ready to assist the deportees.

“We put together a team of 20 officers from various Government departments which would assist in documenting the deportees upon arrival.

“The deportees will be provided with food, accommodation, and counselling, information on safe migration processes, medical treatment especially for those with critical protection needs and travelling warrants to their respective homes.

“Furthermore we are looking forward to a smooth repatriation process and are also working on a long term solution to provide them with transport to their respective homes,” he said.