News / National
ZCP SG laments deportation of Zimbabweans from SA
09 May 2017 at 06:42hrs | Views
Zimbabwe Communist Party Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena has lamented that some people were celebrating the deportation of Zimbabweans from South Africa when such people were victims of a collapsed economic system.
Mabhena said it is a pity that some are celebrating the arrest and deportation of Zimbabwean nationals who are or had South African Identity Documents.
"The reality is that, these are victims of both a collapsed economic system and Gukurahundi in Zimbabwe. They came to South Africa for a better life. Upon arriving in South Africa, they could not qualify for any permits, other than to apply for the South African ID. When in 1995 the Mandela administration gave them an amnesty, they did not come forward for fear of losing their jobs as they were known by their workmates and employers as South Africans," he said.
"This was again the case in 2010. While the South African government has a duty to enforce its laws by arresting those who fraudulently acquired these IDs, there is no reason for any Zimbabwean to celebrate. Assuming that the South African government does not renew the Zimbabwe Special Permits, some holders of the ZSP will seek to follow the route taken by those years back who are now facing deportation. We know that some ZSP holders have lost thousands of rands trying to get Permanent Residents Permits. When they get cheated of their hard earned money, we do not celebrate. So why celebrate when those who had IDs are getting deported?"
He said the solution to all this in my view, is to industrialise the SADC region. South Africa can not afford to be surrounded by poor countries.
"This requires all of us to deal with the Elephant in the room. I know there are people from Swaziland who cross the border every month to earn a grant in South Africa and go back to their country. These Swazi nationals, just like Zimbabweans, are victims of dictatorship in their own countries and were forced to fraudulently acquire South African IDs. As long as we continue to roll out the red carpet for Mugabe and Mswati, our countries will remain poor, forcing millions of workers to flock to South Africa," he said.
"I call on my Zimbabwean friends who are legally in South Africa to feel for our brothers and sisters who found themselves applying for the South African IDs. A true revolutionary must feel for others!"
Mabhena said it is a pity that some are celebrating the arrest and deportation of Zimbabwean nationals who are or had South African Identity Documents.
"The reality is that, these are victims of both a collapsed economic system and Gukurahundi in Zimbabwe. They came to South Africa for a better life. Upon arriving in South Africa, they could not qualify for any permits, other than to apply for the South African ID. When in 1995 the Mandela administration gave them an amnesty, they did not come forward for fear of losing their jobs as they were known by their workmates and employers as South Africans," he said.
"This was again the case in 2010. While the South African government has a duty to enforce its laws by arresting those who fraudulently acquired these IDs, there is no reason for any Zimbabwean to celebrate. Assuming that the South African government does not renew the Zimbabwe Special Permits, some holders of the ZSP will seek to follow the route taken by those years back who are now facing deportation. We know that some ZSP holders have lost thousands of rands trying to get Permanent Residents Permits. When they get cheated of their hard earned money, we do not celebrate. So why celebrate when those who had IDs are getting deported?"
He said the solution to all this in my view, is to industrialise the SADC region. South Africa can not afford to be surrounded by poor countries.
"This requires all of us to deal with the Elephant in the room. I know there are people from Swaziland who cross the border every month to earn a grant in South Africa and go back to their country. These Swazi nationals, just like Zimbabweans, are victims of dictatorship in their own countries and were forced to fraudulently acquire South African IDs. As long as we continue to roll out the red carpet for Mugabe and Mswati, our countries will remain poor, forcing millions of workers to flock to South Africa," he said.
"I call on my Zimbabwean friends who are legally in South Africa to feel for our brothers and sisters who found themselves applying for the South African IDs. A true revolutionary must feel for others!"
Source - Byo24News
