16 January 2008
Maputo — The South African authorities are continuing to deport large numbers of illegal Mozambican migrants: over the past ten days 2,474 were repatriated.
Orlando Cossa, head of immigration at the Ressano Garcia border post, about 100 kilometres northwest of Maputo, told AIM that 523 of these deportees arrived on Wednesday morning by bus.
"Last week, 387 were repatriated", he said. "But on 6 January we received the largest number so far this year, when 1,564 Mozambicans were deported".
During December, the South Africans repatriated no fewer than 83,290 people through Ressano Garcia. Not all of the people dumped at the border are Mozambicans - some are from other African countries, particularly the Great Lakes region, and simply pass through Mozambique on their way to South Africa.
Nowadays Mozambicans no longer need entry visas to enter South Africa for up to 30 days as tourists or for business purposes. But most of those caught by the South African police are seeking work in South Africa, and many do not even own a passport.
"Some people are caught the same day they cross the border", said Cossa. "Every day there are people who jump the fence, but are caught and immediately returned".
He thought it was very difficult to control the lengthy border, and prevent people clambering over the fence. Even the South Africans, whose police are much better equipped than their Mozambican counterparts, are quite unable to patrol every metre of the border.
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