Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have intercepted and arrested 1,174 undocumented Zimbabweans trying to enter South Africa through illegal border crossings.
It is alleged that a soldier was stabbed and needed urgent medical care after some of the illegal immigrants became aggressive when intercepted.
One video shows a large group, including women carrying babies on their backs, being stopped as they attempted to cross. The footage captures the group being instructed to walk in single file across land partly covered in muddy water.
The arrests were carried out over the past week as part of ongoing border security operations during the festive season. The SANDF said:
“This marks the first time our members have had to manage such a massive influx during this period of the festive season.”
Officials said the group was trying to enter South Africa through illegal border points. The border jumpers were processed according to immigration laws and handed over to the relevant authorities.
The SANDF warned that border security operations will continue and that illegal crossings will not be tolerated.
