Evidence of the Home Affairs ministry’s efforts to combat illegal immigration can be witnessed at the Beitbridge border where scores of Zimbabwean nationals have been stranded since the launch of the ‘firewall’ roadblocks.
Watch: Thousands of Zimbabwean nationals stuck at Beitbridge
At the conclusion of his two-day oversight visit at Beitbridge, one of South Africa’s border posts infamous for illegal activity, Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi noted, with satisfaction, the immediate impact of his plan.
From what we understand, the minister’s ‘firewall’ roadblock operation stretches more than 446km, from Beitbridge to Hammanskraal, key entry points for illegal immigrants coming from Zimbabwe.
Three massive roadblocks, manned by a mixture of South African police, traffic officials, customs officers and members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) control this route.
As a result, at least at the start of the operation, thousands of Zimbabweans who, it’s believed, would have used unscrupulous means to make it into South Africa, were left stranded, with no way back.
Zimbabweans stuck in no man’s land at the Beitbridge border post as the South African side was temporarily closed.
— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) January 4, 2022
All these people reflect the deep political and economic crisis of leadership in Zimbabwe.
ZANUPF has created a massive regional immigration crisis in @SADC_News pic.twitter.com/JkkzbTu41x
OMG 🤯 Current situation right now Zimbabweans stuck in beitbridge border want to cross in South Africa illegally. pic.twitter.com/2TDqnofA9N
— PutSouthAfricansFirst (@JeffDumisani) January 4, 2022
“The reason why we have these roadblocks is, we are building firewalls in case somebody escapes detection at the border line… What we have learned is that these people come by cars from Zimbabwe, the car stops on the other side of the border, whoever doesn’t have documents will then move out of the car. The car will go in because the driver’s got documents, passport etc. pass through the border gate, and they come and meet the person who crossed illegally yo come a wait for them inside, Motsoaledi revealed.
What happens to illegal immigrants when they are found?
The minister added that the multi-layered roadblock operation is key to rooting out corruption from inside and out. Hundreds of undocumented foreign nationals are turned away at the border line. However, thousands more slip past the poorly secured border fence. This time, though, they still have to make it past at least three road blocks, a highly unlikely feat.
Once caught, Motsoaledi explained, the illegal immigrants are gathered into trucks and deported back to Zimbabwe, where they are left to find their way back home.
Another problem persists, however, Motsoaledi revealed, and it is an internal problem. The minister announced that not only has the Department of Home Affairs launched a border management authority to man South Africa’s land entry points, but the work of customs officials is now overseen by the Counter-Corruption Unit.
“I have just populated the Counter-Corruption Unit because of this corruption in home affairs, we are the only department in the whole of government where we have got an anti-corruption unit headed by a deputy-director general,” he said.
The unit is mandated with rooting out rotten apples within the department’s border workforce. Punitive measures corrupt individuals could face include immediate termination of employment and a possible prison term with a maximum of eight years.