via SA deports 14 450 Zimbabweans | The Herald September 30, 2015
A total of 14 450 Zimbabweans were deported from South Africa for violating that country’s immigration laws between January and the first two weeks of September this year, an official has said.
Acting immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge Border Post Mr Innocent Hamandishe told the parliamentary thematic committee on Peace and Security on Monday that most of the deportees were from Limpopo and Gauteng provinces.
Deportations from South Africa have been falling gradually due to improved access to official travel documents and better economic prospects in the country.
He said the immigrants were deported for various reasons including lack of valid travel documents or overstaying.
“We have an average of 2 000 deportees per month. For instance we received 2 190 in June and 2 236 in August,” he said.
Mr Hamandishe said the deportees came by road via Beitbridge Border Post and were left at the Reception and Support Centre in the border town for further processing.
The centre is manned by the Department of Social Services and has a holding capacity of 1 000 adults and 40 children at any given time.
“Those deported are assisted with food, counselling, medical check-up and information on safe migration processes, while others are issued with travel warrants,” he said.
Mr Hamandishe added that there was rampant human smuggling at the border especially on buses coming from South Africa.
He said they intercepted buses with illegal immigrants on a daily basis.
“We have tightened screws and deployed immigration security guards to all entry and exit points within the border post to reduce irregular migration.
“Those intercepted are made to pay fines for entry by evasion,” he said.
He said they were also working with other security agents to carry out random patrols along the borderline to reduce cases of illegal migration.
“We have enlisted the services of the police to patrol around the area so that we get rid of undesired people from the border area, which is a security zone,” he added.
Mr Hamandishe said they were also intercepting other illegal immigrants from countries north of the Zambezi River who attempted to skip into South Africa via Beitbridge.
“These are sent to the courts for prosecution and later deported to their respective countries,” he said.
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