BREAKING: South Africa Deports 273 Zimbbweans
South Africa is, between Thursday and Friday, deporting a total of 273 Zimbabweans who have been arrested for breaking its immigration laws.
The move is part of South Africa’s efforts to contain the rapid spread of Covid-19 by decongesting overpopulated areas mostly prisons and immigrants detention centres.
The Herald reports that a total of 169 arrived today in police vans while another 106 are expected to arrive in the country by road through Beitbridge Border Post tomorrow.
The development was confirmed by Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa, Mr David Hamadziripi who indicated that all those being deported were from various holding centres in Limpopo Province. The ambassador said:
I can confirm that the South African authorities will be deporting a total of 273 Zimbabwean nationals from 2 to 3 July 2020.
The majority of them had been arrested for violation of South Africa’s immigration laws.
The latest development brings to 800 the total number of Zimbabweans deported from the neighbouring country since the beginning of April with the first group of 527 arriving in the country in May.
Among the immigrants were 129 ex-convicts who upon arrival in the country caused chaos in quarantine centres where they were reportedly stealing and assaulting fellow inmates.
More: The Herald
