South Africa July 2006 |
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| SA deports 35 000 Zimbabweans, (Chronicle, 2006-07-13):-South Africa deported a total of 34 979 Zimbabweans through Beitbridge Border Post during the first half of the year, police said yesterday. The figure is a jump from last year’s figure of 32 356 during the same period last year. Matabeleland South police spokesman, Assistant Inspector Trust Ndlovu, said the highest number of deportees was recorded in January. “We recorded the highest number of deportees in January, when there were 9 100 cases, an increase of 2 652 compared to January last year,” Asst Insp Ndlovu said. A number of Zimbabweans who were rounded up in South Africa during the festive season were detained at Lindela Detention Centre near Johannesburg among other places. A majority of them were eventually released in January and subsequently deported back into the country through Beitbridge. Last month saw the least number of deportees — 2 330 — a drop from June last year’s 5 680. Asst Insp Ndlovu said despite regular joint police patrols with their South African counterparts, border jumpers continued to cross into the neighbouring country. “We continue to conduct patrols along the Limpopo River in conjunction with our South African counterparts and you will find that although these operations yield results, we still cannot completely stop border jumping because it is difficult to control. However, we are doing our level best as far as curbing border jumping is concerned,” Asst Insp Ndlovu said. Unlike in the past where they were sent through the Beitbridge Police Station, border jumpers are now deported at the International Organisation for Migration Support Centre in Beitbridge. At the centre they are offered food, shelter and transport to go to their respective homes. On being deported, a majority of the deportees quickly find their way back into South Africa through undesignated entry points along the crocodileinfested Limpopo River. The whole of last year about 50 000 Zimbabweans were deported through Beitbridge Border Post. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |