Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
Permanent Secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Pfungwa Kunaka, on Saturday, toured the Government Reception and Support Centre to check the state of preparedness ahead of June 30, which has been widely circulated on social media as a deadline for migrants to leave South Africa.
The deadline is being pushed by some xenophobic groups in South Africa who claim all undocumented migrants must exit by June 30 or face harassment and arrests.
The South African Government has since said there is no official deadline, and no mass deportation order has been issued.
Despite Pretoria’s position, the situation on the ground is different, with most African Governments now evacuating their citizens by air or by road en masse.
Buses have increased at the border as families return home with belongings. Mr Kunaka engaged border agencies and partners at the reception centre, but was not at liberty to disclose more details.
He was accompanied by officials from the Department of Social Welfare, IOM, UNICEF, the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society, Health, Immigration and ZRP.
The team inspected the transit centre at the border, the holding facility, and the ablution blocks being upgraded ahead of any surge.
Indications are that buses arriving at the border have increased from one to four daily, mainly from Cape provinces and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Most returnees cite fear of attacks, loss of work, and pressure from community groups in South African townships.
Others said they are returning voluntarily to avoid problems later. During a visit to the same facility early last week, Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Albert Nguluvhe said the Government is working on a plan to place children of Zimbabweans who have voluntarily returned from South Africa into local schools.
This comes as violent anti-migrant protests continue in parts of South Africa, forcing many Zimbabweans to come back home.
Between 28 May and 21 June, a total of 761 children returned from Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces with their parents or guardians.
Seven other children arrived at Beitbridge Border Post without parents or guardians. Government officials have already reunited those children with their families in Zimbabwe.
Since the protests started, 1 755 people have been evacuated from South Africa by the Government.
In the same period, 24 211 people chose to return on their own under a process known as self-repatriation.
Minister Nguluvhe toured the Government and he will talk to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education about the returning children.
“No child should lose a school year because of what is happening in South Africa,” he said.
“I will engage the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education so that we create space and support for these children in our schools.”
He added information from some of the returning parents that some children of migrants were being bullied in South African schools.
Minister Nguluvhe said the situation was making parents decide to bring their children back home.
Government, he said, wants to make sure the children settle quickly and continue learning.
“The Government will look at social safety nets for parents who have returned. Many parents lost jobs or businesses in South Africa,” said the Minister.
Social safety nets can include food aid, counselling, and help to start small income projects.
Minister Nguluvhe commended the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and other partners for helping the Government evacuate Zimbabweans from South Africa.
He called for better teamwork between the local Civil Protection Committee in Beitbridge and the Zimbabwe Embassy in South Africa.
“Such a set-up will make the return process smooth and safe for everyone,” said Minister Nguluvhe.
He also said the kitchen and toilet facilities at the Government Reception and Support Centre in Beitbridge need more resources.
The centre is now receiving more people every day, and the facilities must be able to handle the load.
Superintendent at the reception centre, Miss Nobuhle Ncube, said the number of buses arriving has increased.
“At first we were receiving one bus a day. Now we get up to four buses daily from different areas in South Africa,” she said.
Miss Ncube said most of the returnees are going to Harare, Masvingo and other Mashonaland provinces after resting at the centre.
The centre gives them food, medical checks, and transport help before they continue their journey.
IOM Beitbridge Head, Mr Nhamo Muleya, said the organisation is providing non-food item kits, transport and meals to returnees. The kits include blankets, soap, cooking utensils and sanitary wear.
The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society is helping returnees call their relatives. Many people arrive without airtime or charged phones, and they are provided with free phone calls so they can tell their families they are safe.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care runs a clinic at the centre with support from partners. Nurses and doctors check returnees for sickness, give medicine, and offer health advice.
Social workers are also at the centre to counsel people who have gone through stress or trauma. They also advise on social protection services.
The Civil Registry Department is also stationed at the facility to attend to documentation issues, while the police have increased security at the border and the reception centre to keep everyone safe.
Regional Immigration Officer in charge of the Southern Region, Mr Joshua Chibundu, said his team is ready for the extra work.
“We are equal to the task. So far we have assisted 24, 211 Zimbabweans coming through the border post between May 28 and June 21 under the self-repatriation model,” he said.
“We will continue working with other agencies to make sure people are processed quickly and with dignity. We are profiling all those arriving undocumented to ensure they are all Zimbabwean nationals”.
Zimborders Consortium General Manager, Mr Nqobile Ncube, said his company is also ready to assist to ensure the border processes are efficient.
The consortium upgraded the Beitbridge Border Post under a US$300 million public-private partnership with the Government and now runs the facility on behalf of the State.
“We have enough staff and systems to handle the increase in travellers. We will work with all agencies to keep things moving,” Mr Ncube said.
Government and partners continue to watch the situation in South Africa and already they are asking Zimbabweans there to stay calm and follow the law.
