News / National
Another 370 deported from South Africa
14 Oct 2011 at 04:44hrs | Views
SOUTH Africa yesterday deported the second batch of 370 illegal Zimbabwean immigrants, bringing to 631 the total number of people deported through Beitbridge Border Post this week.
This follows the expiry of the July 31 deadline for them to regularise their papers.
The first batch of 261 Zimbabweans arrived in the country on Wednesday.
The deportees underwent rigorous screening at Lindelani Holding Centre in Johannesburg. Thousands others are still being held at the centre pending deportation.
Over 275 000 applications for Zimbabweans wishing to regularise their stay in South Africa were processed while several others were turned down.
Assistant regional immigration officer, Mr Francis Mabika, yesterday confirmed the latest arrivals.
"So far South Africa has deported a total of 631 Zimbabweans and as I speak, there are 261 people at the border post," he said.
He said last Friday they received 28 people who were deported from South Africa, five on Sunday, 76 on Tuesday and 261 on Wednesday.
South African Home Affairs officials accompanying the deportees said they will be deporting Zimbabweans without documents two times per week - on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
This follows the expiry of the July 31 deadline for them to regularise their papers.
The first batch of 261 Zimbabweans arrived in the country on Wednesday.
The deportees underwent rigorous screening at Lindelani Holding Centre in Johannesburg. Thousands others are still being held at the centre pending deportation.
Assistant regional immigration officer, Mr Francis Mabika, yesterday confirmed the latest arrivals.
"So far South Africa has deported a total of 631 Zimbabweans and as I speak, there are 261 people at the border post," he said.
He said last Friday they received 28 people who were deported from South Africa, five on Sunday, 76 on Tuesday and 261 on Wednesday.
South African Home Affairs officials accompanying the deportees said they will be deporting Zimbabweans without documents two times per week - on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Source - TH
