Zimbabwe police presence reports cause a stink in SA

Following reports that the Zimbabwe government has dispatched a team of its police force to South Africa to protect who have been displaced by xenophobic violence in Durban, Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Police Dianne Kohler-Barnard has questioned how it is possible.

Dianne Kohler-Barnard tweeted, "Just asked the NPC how it is possible that a contingent of Zim police have been sent here to protect Zimbabweans.Will they be shooting SAs?"

In Thursday reports, Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi apparently told a local newspaper (Newsday) that government had dispatched a team of police officers to South Africa to protect stranded Zimbabweans.

"We are working out modalities to help our nationals who are in South Africa, we are monitoring developments there with keen interest and we have dispatched a team there to assist so that we protect our nationals," Mohadi said.

"We are worried about the welfare of our citizens and we will not watch helplessly our nationals being subjected to such treatment. We have engaged our counterparts and are also trying by all means possible to help them (those in South Africa)."