Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
THE mother of a South African woman who travelled to Zimbabwe in the hope of reuniting with her husband is appealing for assistance to bring her daughter and three grandchildren back home after the reunion ended in disappointment.
Ms Charlotte Masemola arrived in Bulawayo last week with her three children, two boys and a girl, intending to reunite with her Zimbabwean husband.
However, the reunion reportedly failed after the man’s family allegedly refused to accept her, claiming that she had entered Zimbabwe illegally and accusing her of infidelity.
In an interview from KwaNdebele in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Ms Masemola’s mother, Ms Dina Bhudasi, said she only learnt of her daughter’s trip after she had already crossed into Zimbabwe.
“I was shocked to learn that my daughter had travelled to Zimbabwe. She never informed me, as her mother. She must return, and my prayer is that she receives assistance because I know she has no financial means to cover her transport costs,” said Ms Bhudasi.
She said her primary concern was the safety and welfare of her daughter and grandchildren.
Ms Masemola arrived in Zimbabwe with a group of returning Zimbabwean nationals and was initially accommodated at the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) reception centre in Njube, Bulawayo.
She has since been moved to a place of safety by a humanitarian organisation while authorities assess her circumstances and explore options for her return to South Africa.
The case has attracted attention because of the circumstances surrounding her arrival and the challenges she encountered after failing to reunite with her husband.
Authorities and humanitarian organisations are understood to be working together to determine the appropriate course of action, including possible repatriation.
The development comes at a time when Zimbabwe is coordinating the large-scale repatriation and reintegration of its citizens returning from South Africa following recent anti-migrant attacks.
The Government, working with humanitarian partners, has established reception centres and support systems to provide accommodation, food, medical care, psychosocial support and transport assistance to returnees before they proceed to their respective homes.
Meanwhile, South African authorities have also warned against the abuse of repatriation programmes.
Earlier this month, another woman from KwaZulu-Natal allegedly attempted to leave South Africa by posing as a Malawian national to be included in a voluntary repatriation programme.
According to South African media reports, the woman, who was travelling with her lover, claimed to be a Malawian citizen before immigration officials and Malawian authorities discovered inconsistencies in her account during screening at the Musina temporary repatriation centre.
South African Home Affairs acting chief director, Mr Albert Matsaung, told broadcaster eNCA that the woman’s claim was disproved following a joint verification exercise.
“We work with different authorities here who interviewed her. After the interview, Malawian authorities realised that the story did not add up,” he said.
The woman was subsequently handed over to South African authorities, who confirmed that she was a South African citizen.
Mr Matsaung warned that repatriation programmes are intended solely to assist foreign nationals returning to their countries of origin and should not be used to facilitate illegal migration.
“People wishing to visit other countries must not abuse this process. We are not trying to promote illegal immigration to other countries by our own citizens, so this process must not be abused,” he said.
Mr Matsaung urged South Africans wishing to visit relatives or partners in neighbouring countries to use lawful immigration channels and comply with the relevant travel requirements.
