South Africa’s main opposition political party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said that it would assess Beitbridge border post’s readiness to cope amid warnings of a new influx of economic refugees from neighbouring Zimbabwe.
A statement issued by DA immigration spokesperson Jacques Julius (MP) reads as follows:
We will visit the Beitbridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe on the Limpopo River.
Due to the violence and unrest in Zimbabwe, thousands are seeking economic refuge and safety.
Therefore, the DA will assess the readiness of Home Affairs officials at the border, while engaging with Zimbabwean nationals on the human rights violations they face back home.
Zimbabwe has experienced an economic decline for over two decades and an estimated 3 million people have migrated to South Africa. A significant number of the migrants is believed to have crossed the Zimbabwe-South Africa border illegally.