South Africa deports more than 1,200 Mozambicans in one week

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

South Africa deports more than 1,200 Mozambicans in one week

6:18 CAT | 28 Jan 2021

File photo: Noticias

South Africa and Eswatini deported 1,226 Mozambicans between 16 and 22 January, mostly for trying to circumvent border closures dictated by Covid-19, Mozambique’s National Migration Service (SENAMI) announced today.

South Africa deported 1,210 Mozambicans, and Esswatini 16, when, during the same period in 2020, only one Mozambican citizen was deported by the South African authorities, SENAMI noted in a statement.

Illegal immigration was the biggest cause of deportation, with 936 cases registered. The remaining 290 deportations were for illegal stay.

Commander-general of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) Bernardino Rafael on Wednesday announced the suspension of 63 agents of the corporation on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration at the Namaacha border post with South Africa.

“There are indications that colleagues were involved in schemes to facilitate illegal crossings, leading to the suspension of the entire Macuácua company [the area where the crossings were made],” who will face disciplinary charges, Rafael said.

According to SENAMI, more than 16,000 travellers crossed Mozambican borders during the week in question, against 95,321 in the same period last year – a reduction of 83%.

In response to the intensification of the Covid-19 pandemic, South African authorities have partially closed their borders with neighbouring countries until a putative February 15th.

Source: Lusa