Border crisis increases

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province is highlighting a large-scale international crisis posed by undocumented migrants illegally crossing the great Limpopo into South Africa from Zimbabwe with a demand for the factors ensuing from this escalating practice to be addressed at parliamentary level.
When the river is in flood – as is currently the case – hordes of citizens from various African countries believed to consider it as uncontrolled access route to the opportunities posed by the powerhouse at the southern tip of the continent, risk their lives by taking on notorious crocodile-infested waters. As proof of ongoing illegal crossing over into South African territory and the impact on the resources of the country – and in specific that of Limpopo as first port of call – DA Provincial Leader Jacques Smalle made available images of a potentially hazardous border crossing photographed near Beitbridge border post this past weekend.
One of the photos shows an estimated 30 persons passing through at a time, their luggage positioned on their heads as they make their way to greener pastures through a stretch of river almost half a kilometre wide. The other visual portrays close to a hundred persons gathering on the water’s edge upon reportedly having crossed over into foreign territory. According to information the Limpopo has been in flood since the weekend.
Smalle said the magnitude of the expansive problem has led to the DA in Limpopo demanding debate by Parliament’s portfolio committees on Home Affairs and Safety and Security to address issues pertaining to the situation once the institution commences with business next month. He stressed that the factors at play had to be brought to the fore for monetary provision to be made for measures aimed at addressing the crisis to be considered for inclusion in the annual performance plans of relevant national departments that had to be finalised towards the end of March.
Pressing issues that would have to be addressed at parliamentary level would include the safeguarding of the border and how to limit entry by illegal immigrants, he explained. Smalle raised concern over the fact that large numbers were now illegally entering South Africa in the beginning of the new year, as they returned to work or pursued opportunities this side of the border. He, however, is not only concerned about the human influx but also the movement of animals introducing contamination to the red line corridor along the border between the two countries.
He pointed out that the border fence has been down for very long and that it would apparently cost R300 million to repair, an undertaking he described as a Defence Force competency.
Smalle attributed the crisis to a lack of political will to launch counter action against citizens of a ruling party ally in the period prior to the dawn of democracy. “Now that they are contravening the law, it is not that easy to launch counter action against those who were sympathetic to the cause.”

Story: YOLANDE NEL
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