SOUTH Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has expressed concern about “corruption on the Zimbabwe side of the Beitbridge Border Post” regarding the issuing of COVID 19 certificates.
Motsoaledi is in Limpopo observing operations at the
Beitbridge Border Post. He has also observed a roadblock close to the border.
More than 500 foreign nationals have been arrested so far
this weekend, while others have been deported back to their countries of origin
for failing to produce COVID-19 certificates and trying to enter the country
illegally. Motsoaledi says corruption from the Zimbabwean side makes it
difficult to deal with illegal immigrants.
“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. We are arresting people with no
documents; either COVID-19 or passport. Even yesterday, they arrested 500;
that’s happening every day from what I told you. They showed me a video where
Zimbabwean soldiers and police were helping people to come I asked ‘what’s
that?’
Motsoaledi says from Monday, operations will be stepped up
along the border with Zimbabwe to stem illegal crossings into South Africa. He
says the army will patrol the rivers and a helicopter and drones will be used
to monitor the border.
“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. We have heard that there
is a business here selling rubber dinghies which are used illegally for R3000.
I’m going to visit that business when I leave here if its
pen today but they told me about it. The border management authority is being
enacted 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.” – Sabc news
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