Source: 1 200 Malawians, 400 Zimbabweans leave SA – herald
South Africa’s Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato, said they processed a total of 1 596 Malawian and Zimbabwean nationals during an intensive 13-hour operation at Beitbridge Port of Entry.Thupeyo Muleya-Beitbridge Bureau
SOUTH African border authorities yesterday processed 1 129 Malawians and 467 Zimbabweans leaving that country in Government-hired buses as xenophobia-motivated violence targeting mostly Africans surged.
So far, Zimbabwe has evacuated over 1 000 of its citizens by road since the beginning of this month, while other African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana and Malawi, are also rolling out massive voluntary repatriation programmes for their citizens.
South Africa’s Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato, said they processed a total of 1 596 Malawian and Zimbabwean nationals during an intensive 13-hour operation at Beitbridge Port of Entry.
“In the early hours of this morning, 17 buses arrived carrying a total of 1 129 Malawian nationals for repatriation. This represents the largest number of Malawian nationals processed by the BMA in a single day as part of a co-ordinated repatriation exercise,” he said.
“The operation required the full mobilisation of BMA personnel, supported by officials from the Department of Home Affairs and SAPS Public Order Policing, to ensure that all travellers were processed in accordance with the applicable immigration laws and established operational procedures.
“All 1 129 Malawian nationals were found to be without any documentation authorising their continued stay in the Republic. The Malawian nationals had been issued Emergency Travel Certificates through a collective facilitation process co-ordinated by the Malawian High Commission to enable their return to their country of origin.”
Dr Masiapato said that, as part of the stringent verification process, the BMA Border Guards conducted headcounts before each traveller was presented to BMA Immigration officials.
Every individual, he said, underwent biometric fingerprint verification and was captured on the bulk processing system using the details contained in the Emergency Travel Certificates issued through the Malawian High Commission.
These measures were implemented to safeguard the integrity of South Africa’s immigration system and to ensure accurate accountability throughout the operation.
He said an additional 467 Zimbabweans were also processed and passed through Beitbridge Port of Entry on the same day.
“I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all officials who remained on duty throughout this demanding 13-hour operation. Their commitment, discipline and professionalism ensured that this complex repatriation exercise was executed efficiently, humanely and in full compliance with the law,” said Dr Masiapato.
He said the operation was conducted with due regard for the welfare of vulnerable persons, as many of the repatriated travellers were part of family units travelling with children.
“The presence of families and children required officials to exercise compassion while maintaining the integrity of our immigration controls.
“This reflects our commitment to implementing the law in a manner that respects human dignity and the rights of all persons,” said Commissioner Masiapato.
He said the Malawian High Commission has indicated that additional buses carrying Malawian nationals from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal are expected to arrive later this evening or during the early hours of tomorrow morning.
The official added that from 12 to 17 June, the BMA processed a total of 1 331 Malawian nationals and 254 Zimbabwean nationals for repatriation through Beitbridge Port of Entry.
The post 1 200 Malawians, 400 Zimbabweans leave SA appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.