EN ROUTE: More than 100 East Africans  arrested said they were promised jobs in this country…

By Monk Nkomo

While the South African authorities are intensifying their efforts to stem the influx of illegal  Zimbabwean immigrants into the country, there seems to be a syndicate that is now involved  in recruiting and trying to smuggle unemployed Ethiopians into the country illegally through the Kenyan and Zambian borders.

More than a hundred Ethiopian aliens  were intercepted and arrested in the past two years  mostly by police in Nairobi which the smuggling networks tried to use as a springboard to transport  immigrants into South Africa illegally. The arrests followed an agreement between South Africa  and Kenya to thwart any efforts by syndicates and individual foreigners to use their borders as a transit camp to enter the country illegally.

Authorities in  Kenya have revealed that most of those arrested while in transit were between ages 14 and 45 and they did not know the mastermind behind these illegal recruitments. They told police that they were headed for greener pastures  in South Africa where they were promised  jobs.  Thanks to the alert security police officials in Kenya, the smuggling networks had been bust many a times in the past two to three years while trying to transport unemployed Ethiopians into South Africa.

The latest batch to be arrested by the Kenyan authorities included fifty Ethiopian nationals last month.

• The first group was arrested at a house in Huruma, Nairobi County on November 6, 2023. According to the Nairobi News, when they were arrested, they were unable to explain what they were doing in the area. All that they could tell the police was that they had not eaten for days and were promised jobs in South Africa. They were held at the Kayole police station in Nairobi County.
• The other group of about 30 was found at a house in Komarock where they were waiting to be smuggled to South Africa as well.
• On November 27, 2023, six Ethiopians were arrested at a village in Merti, Isiolo while they were waiting to be transported to Nairobi. They were detained at the Merti police station pending arraignment. They also told the police that they were on their way to South Africa where they had been promised jobs.
• On August 5, 2022, Immigration authorities in Zambia intercepted and arrested fifty-one illegal Ethiopians who were on their way to South Africa. The Immigration Department’s spokesperson, Namati Nshinka said authorities had obtained intelligence about some suspected illegal immigrants who were being held at two settlements in the Mbala district of Northern Zambia. Preliminary interviews revealed that unidentified people had recruited the Ethiopians by alluring them with promises of jobs in South Africa.
• Fourteen Ethiopian aliens were charged at a Machakos Court in Kenya in October 2015 for being in the country illegally. They were released after being fined 20 000 Shillings each or face imprisonment of 130 days.

According to the police in Nairobi, most of these foreigners from Ethiopia used the Moyale route to try and find their way to South Africa and the Middle East where they hope to find jobs.

The Department of Home Affairs could not confirm if there was a  syndicate in the country that was responsible for recruiting and trying to smuggle Ethiopians into the country. The Department was however aware of the sinister moves but assured South Africans that security at our borders had been tightened.

Speaking at a media briefing last week on issues relating to the latest and botched attempts  of Ethiopians trying to enter  the country  illegally, Minister of Home Affairs,  Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi,  said everything was being done to stem the tide of illegal immigrants including those from Zimbabwe. The Kenyan authorities, he added, were doing a fantastic job of thwarting these illegal movements after South Africa offered that country  visa-free status – the ability to enter South Africa without obtaining a visa in advance. The status allows travellers to move freely across borders with their passports.

This deal was signed between the two countries in November last year. According to this agreement, the Kenyan authorities would always be on high alert to clamp down on illegal immigrants who were trying to use their country as a springboard  to enter South Africa illegally. 

While many poor Africans from neighbouring  countries viewed South Africa as  greener pastures and with thousands of  them flocking to this country seeking better lives, some politicians and locals have fiercely protested  against undocumented foreigners who are being blamed for overcrowding  our health institutions including hospitals and clinics.

There has also been a rising level of xenophobia with these  illegal immigrants being blamed for the increase in violent crimes, drug dealings, kidnappings and also causing  the high level of unemployment in the country.

The  resentment of illegal foreigners has recently been exacerbated by  the deaths of children who were allegedly sold expired foodstuffs at various spaza shops owned by foreigners in the townships throughout the  country.

This led to scores of their shops being shut down and the owners ordered to return to their countries.

MIRROR

Briefs

BUS CRASH: 7 DEAD

Seven people died after a bus they were travelling in overturned on the R37 Road between Lydenburg and Sabie this afternoon.

According to the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, the deceased were certified dead at the scene. About 49 people sustained injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for medical attention.

MEC, Vusi Shongwe expressed that it is deeply disheartening for the province to begin the festive season on a bad note. “We are concerned about the number of fatalities that the province has recorded so far from the crashes since last week. We continue to make a clarion call to motorists to be extremely vigilant amid rising traffic volumes. They should be patient and plan their trips accordingly,” Shongwe said. – Mpumalanga Mirror

HUMAN TRAFFICKING RAP

A case against a Zimbabwean couple that is facing charges of trafficking of persons has been postponed to December 14, reports Sunday World online.

Lt Col. Tebogo Thebe, Hawks spokesperson, said a multi-disciplinary team comprising Hawks, Kimberley Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit and Kimberley Crime Prevention arrested two adults, a man (46) and a woman (41).

On Tuesday, 14 children travelling on a bus from Pretoria to Cape Town when on stopover in Kimberley one passenger noticed the children were unusually quiet and alerted police who searched the bus and discovered they were kidnap victims. The two suspects were later arrested. Thebe said there were eight boys and six girls, aged between six and 14-years-old.

“The suspects claimed to be taking the kids to their parents in Cape Town, information police could not verify, leading to the arrest,” he said.

Thebe said the victims looked dirty and hungry, without any additional clothes or bags. “Provincial Trafficking in Persons rapid response team, lead by Department of Social Development, was contacted to assist with placing the kids at a place of safety and providing food.” – Thuli Zungu

SKIN PRODUCTS’ STING

The Border Management Authority’s (BMA) port health team, working in the cargo section of the OR Tambo International Airport, intercepted 865kg of skin lightening products, as well as unregistered medicine.

The BMA highlighted that skin lightening products are prohibited in South Africa as they cause harm to the skin.

“The products were coming in on a flight from Nigeria and will be destroyed. When these products are found, the importer has to pay for the destruction of the products before the rest of the shipment is released,” a BMA statement said.

The BMA’s port health team also found unregistered medicines which were detained for destruction. – SAnews

SHENGE’S SON TAKES OVER

The Buthelezi clan has identified Prince Zuzifa Buthelezi as the successor of the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who passed away in September.

The clan has since submitted Prince Zuzifa’s name to Kwazulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to recognise him. He is regarded as an automatic heir by virtue of being the remaining son of the late Inkosi Buthelezi and Princess Magogo, his parents.

Although Buthelezi has a son older than Prince Zuzifa, Tutu, he was born out of wedlock and therefore not regarded as of royal lineage, giving Zuzifa the nod. During the funeral proceedings, Prince Zuzifa carried inhlendla (a specially designed spear that was carried by the late Buthelezi) which was a sign that he is an heir.

Princess Magogo, King Dinuzulu’s daughter, was the 10th wife of the late Inkosi Mathole Buthelezi, and Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi was their only son. When Mathole died, Inkosi Mangosuthu had to take over the chieftaincy because his mother had royal blood. – Lehlohonolo Lehana