South Africa deports over 570 in one week

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South Africa deports over 570 in one week

9:50 CAT | 12 Feb 2021

File photo: DW

South Africa deported 571 Mozambican citizens in the first week of February, almost six times more than in the same period in 2020. Grounds cited for deportation include illegal immigration and illegal stay.

571 Mozambicans were deported in the week between January 30 and February 5, almost six times more than in the same period in 2020, reflecting the number of people who have now tried to circumvent the closure of South Africa’s land borders.

The Mozambican National Migration Service (SENAMI) indicates that the Mozambicans were returned to the country mostly across the border at Ressano Garcia, the main crossing between the two countries, with 21 returning through Ponta do Ouro.

Reasons given for deportation include illegal immigration and illegal stay in South Africa. In the same week of 2020, only 100 Mozambicans were deported.

South African authorities decided to close their land borders from 12 January to 15 February due to the upsurge in the Covid-19 pandemic in southern Africa.

Over a thousand deportees

A month ago, the situation involved even more people, with South Africa deporting 1,210 Mozambicans between 16 and 22 January, mostly for crossing the border illegally.

Many Mozambicans seek work in the neighbouring country, will others buy products there to supply the local market.

South Africa is the worst-affected country on the continent in terms of Covid-19. with around 47,000 deaths and 1.5 million coronavirus infections.

Mozambique recorded more Covid-19 cases, deaths and more hospitalisations in January than in the whole of 2020. By Friday 12/02, the country had 1,705 active cases and the Covid-19 death toll stood at 514.

Source: Deutsche Welle