Zimbabweans encouraged to acquire documents in SA

Zimbabwean living in South Africa illegal are being challenged to make sure that they try by all means to acquire the documents which enable them to stay in that country legal.

The encouragement comes in the wake of the spate of massive deportations which have this month been launched by the South African government to flash out foreigners out of that country.

Eric Ramsley Knight a former Radio Two Disk Jockey said since last Friday last week he received a lot of messages from desperate Zimbabweans in South Africa to say they are being deported.

"It is true that there is a massive onslaught on all illegal immigrants in South Africa going on right now. It is a massive operation meant to mop up all illegal immigrants, not just Zimbabweans by the way," said Knight. "Even this morning I am told the Home Office, the Police and the Army have extended this operation to other parts of Pretoria, Johannesburg and even Cape Town. In as much as we understand the worry from those concerned, it is unfortunate that there is nothing we can do about this."

Knight said it is within the South African legal framework for deportations to take place.

"It is their right to control Immigration within their country, just like any other country in the world," said Knight. "It happens a lot in the UK, USA and even Zimbabwe deports those without proper papers if they catch them. We condemned Xenophobic killings to the strongest terms but let us not mix issues. All we can do is empathise with our brothers and sisters affected. I know it was not intentional for most of them to stay in South Africa illegally."

Knight said with a bleeding heart, he can only advise Zimbabweans  to please continue to try to attain legal papers.

"It is not easy I know that too. I also strongly advise those without papers perhaps to even get prepared for the worst," said Knight. "If you have savings and other valuables perhaps it is time to start getting ready for Plan B, just in case. God bless Zimbabwe! God bless Africa!"