SA tightens screws on fake Covid-19 certificates

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE movement of travellers at Beitbridge Border Post has improved significantly after authorities from Zimbabwe and South Africa beefed up immigration personnel amid revelations that South Africa has tightened up security to arrest those with fraudulent Covid-19 certificates and those that enter through illegal crossing points.

SA’s Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi told the media yesterday that they were going to be very strict with those trying to enter the neighbouring country using fake Covid-19 certificates.

He said the country had deployed more workers at six busy borders including Beitbridge to speed up the clearance of traffic under strict Covid-19 protocols.

“We are not going to entertain those who use fraudulent documents. Our immigration officers are going to refuse them entry as they are undesirable immigrants,” he said.

He said they were adding more workers to complement the efforts by the military to minimise irregular migration at illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River.

“We are deploying an additional 60 immigration officials to work with the National Defence Forces in curbing issues of border jumping along our borders.

“A helicopter is being dispatched to aid patrols along our border with Zimbabwe,” said the Minister.

Very short moving queues of southbound light motor vehicles could be seen on the Zimbabwean border by the end of the day.

In addition, traffic has been separated into light and heavy vehicles and buses to enhance a speedy flow of operations.

Hand washing basins and foot baths have also been put at all entry points to buildings in the border to minimise the risk of coronavirus infections.

It is also understood that the bulk of Zimbabweans based in South Africa left the country between 28 December and New Year’s Day.

Meanwhile, a total of 74 Zimbabweans were refused entry into South Africa and returned, after finding their way to the neighbouring country illegally.

The department of immigration in Zimbabwe is also conducting an enforcement and compliance operation targeting border jumpers and is intercepting an average of 40 people daily. – @tupeyo.