By Mashudu Netsianda

SOUTH AFRICA – More than 23 000 Zimbabwean illegal immigrants were deported from South Africa between January and April through Beit Bridge Border, a sharp increase compared to 13 600 during the same period last year.

Police spokesperson Ast Insp Christopher Ngwenya said “We continue to warn people against irregular migration, as they risk prosecution. People should acquire legal travel documents rather than resort to illegally crossing borders.”

Usually those who are deported have breached immigration laws in the countries they are visiting.

On arrival, deportees from South Africa are taken to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Reception and Support Centre in Beit Bridge, where they are offered food and temporary shelter, while waiting to be transported to their respective homes.

Those repatriated are also offered advice on safe migration, counter-trafficking, information on HIV and Aids, food, medical assistance and voluntary transport to travel home.

Most of the illegal immigrants, however, shun the assistance and opt to cross back to the neighbouring countries illegally. On average, between 200 and 300 deportees are brought through Beit Bridge border post from South Africa every day.

Ngwenya said they were conducting routine border patrols in an effort to curb border jumping. “We have embarked on 24-hour border patrols at the Beit Bridge border post, so that we reduce incidents of irregular migration and criminal activities occurring along our borders,” he said. ZoutNet.co.za