Musina community under heavy strain
THE high influx of illegal immigrants through the border town of Musina in the Vhembe District is said to be impacting negatively on the infrastructure of the small town.
Moyahabo Mabeba
LIMPOPO – THE high influx of illegal immigrants through the border town of Musina in the Vhembe District is said to be impacting negatively on the infrastructure of the small town.
More than 80 people a day join the current 400 people already being sheltered by one of the churches, this causes overcrowding and the shelter has insufficient ablution facilities.
Higher traffic activity on the roads and overcrowding is causing the small town of Musina to be under severe strain.
According to Statistics South Africa, the town can only cater for a population of around 60 000, so the influx of foreigners is taking its toll on the limited resources. “We are given grants based on the number of community members,” says municipal manager, Johnson Matshivha.
One foreigner says although they qualified, there is no employment in Zimbabwe so he ran away from economic downfall. Whereas the other says he used to work as a carpenter in Soweto but he was deported because his asylum expired.
Pastor Sithole and his wife use their personal resources to assist and say they are desperate for funding.
“The xenophobic attacks this year increased the influx of these foreigners even more,” says pastor Sithole. Meanwhile, the church and the local Red Cross say they will continue to assist foreign nationals arriving in the country.
Musina applauded for living in peace with foreign nationals
COAL a big help to schools in Musina
Local residents are grateful for R6,3 million roads upgrade in Musina
