Mozambique: Rights commission slams South African treatment of illegal nationals

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Mozambique: Rights commission slams South African treatment of illegal nationals

4:43 CAT | 02 Mar 2022

File photo: Lusa

The President of the National Human Rights Commission of Mozambique (CNDH) told Lusa on Wednesday that the treatment given by South African authorities to Mozambican illegal immigrants was deplorable, criticising the “disproportionality” of the state agents’ actions.

“The way in which Mozambicans and African foreigners in general have been treated in the current campaign to identify and expel illegal immigrants in South Africa is deplorable,” said Luís Bitone.

Bitone said Mozambican immigrants who have been living in South Africa for decades have not even had time to collect their belongings or get the wages corresponding to the days they have worked, when they are caught by the authorities.

“We do not question South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce the country’s migration laws, but we demand that this is done with the necessary dignity,” the CNDH president said.

Luís Bitone considered the expulsion of Mozambicans and other citizens from southern Africa by the South African authorities counterproductive, given that the region has taken steps to create a zone of free movement of people and goods.

“Being foreign citizens of a region that is moving towards a zone of free circulation of people and goods, it would be understandable that the authorities create conditions for legalising illegal immigrants and that they are not thrown to the other side of the border with only the clothes on their bodies,” he noted.

Luís Bitone, a lecturer and specialist in private international law, called on the Mozambican government to intercede with its South African counterpart to give “dignified treatment to the immigrants”.

Official figures indicate that over 300 Mozambicans in an illegal situation have been repatriated by the South African authorities in the last two years in a context in which the country has recorded demonstrations against illegal immigrants as part of the so-called Operation Dudula, or “pulling back” in South African Zulu language.

Comments on #OperationDudula are swarming: across Twitter

Thulas Nxesi #PutSouthAfricanFirst #OperationDudula https://t.co/Pa1HCNgiUb

— Mbango Mulalo J.Nyts (@JozyNyts) March 1, 2022

To all Zimbabweans, Nigerians, Mozambicans, Somalians & all Africans migrants

DO NOT COME TO SA 🇿🇦
Your safety cannot be guaranteed, We are ANGRY & No human rights policy will protect you

Please Pack your sh!? & leave!#PutSouthAficansFirst #OperationDudula
#BBMzansi pic.twitter.com/laTvBKJcrY

— Sunshine 🤩 (@Bikofiles) February 28, 2022

Foreigners are burden to South Africans. Most specially Zimbabweans, Nigerians, Somalians, Ethiopians and Mozambicans. #PutSouthAfricansFirst #PutSouthAfricansFirst #OperationDudula #OperationDudula #OperationDudula #OperationDudula #OperationDudula #OperationDudula #SkeemSaam

— Hosana (@Khadijahhosana) February 24, 2022

We are going to clean Germiston CBD of illegal immigrants who have turned the town into a dumping site. These people bring their lawlessness to our country. How will investors come if a town is dirty like this ? #PutSouthAfricansFirst #OperationDudula pic.twitter.com/ESxEXZ5A8v

— Ally Black (@AllyBla01681053) March 1, 2022

Source: Lusa