Online Reporter
Stephen Mpofu, [email protected]
SOME Zimbabweans in neighbouring South Africa are reportedly pushing back against the current expulsions of foreign nationals in that country.
They argue that they are not illegal immigrants, as they, or their parents, were recruited by the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association (Wenela) for work that was shunned by Africans resisting the Boer regime before the African National Congress assumed power in the mineral-rich SADC state.
Wenela was established in 1900/1902 by South African gold mining companies as a labour recruitment agency for migrant workers.
Its primary role was to supply black labour to the mines while preventing competition among mining firms.
Over time, it grew into a vast operation across Southern Africa, complete with depots, buses, hostels, barracks, clinics, schools and even aircraft.
The company initially recruited workers from Mozambique before extending its operations to Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola and other countries in the region.
Many Zimbabweans who were not recruited through Wenela continued to travel to South Africa in search of employment or for visits.
Likewise, large numbers have continued to cross the border, either legally or illegally, in pursuit of better economic opportunities.
Currently, between 1,5 million and 2 million Zimbabweans, both documented and undocumented, are estimated by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs to be residing in that country.
It remains unclear how many of these Zimbabweans possess valid residence and work permits, how many entered the country illegally, and whether both groups are being targeted in the ongoing expulsions.
To date, the exact number of Zimbabweans and their families who have been expelled from South Africa remains unknown.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said, “We have enough facilities to reintegrate all returning school-going children.”
However, he did not clarify whether those facilities include adequate schools and teaching staff in both rural and urban areas.
The question that remains unanswered is whether suitable accommodation and employment opportunities will be readily available for the returnees upon their return home.
In addition to the above, this pen humbly wishes to know whether South Africa’s blitzkrieg against foreign nationals, which requires its government to bear the cost of transporting deportees back to their countries of origin, might not strain relations between South Africa and other SADC member states.
