Elia NtaliThe South African government has raised concern over the large number of Zimbabweans illegally crossing into South Africa.
Over 500 people have been arrested and deported for border jumping and trying to illegally cross the Beitbridge Border Post with fake negative Covid-19 results.
South Africa Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi security forces will be carrying patrols on the South African side along the Limpopo River.
“Tomorrow the army is getting a helicopter, SARS has provided rubber dinghies for them which are moving in the water up and down and chasing those who are trying to cross with dinghies.
“The border management authority is being enacted and the acting commissioner has just started work on New Year’s Day. Tomorrow the army gets their helicopter and we will also be using drones around the border,” said Motsoaledi
He said he was worried about the level of corruption from Zimbabwe’s side of the border saying video footage of Zimbabwean soldiers and police assisting people to cross illegally.
“We are worried. We have said this before that we heard rumours that there are people who will come with fraudulent certificates and we have found them and we are returning them. I have been shown video footage where Zimbabwean soldiers and police were helping people to come and I asked “what that?”
The latest development comes at a time South Africa is grappling with the new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Zimbabweans have also been crossing into South Africa in search of greener pastures.