| Media release |
| Statement On Zimbabwean Nationals Entering SA |
Following media reports on Zimbabwean nationals said to be entering South Africa illegally and calls for the government to set up a Refugee Camps in Musina, the Department of Home Affairs wishes to convey to the public a report on the traveling patterns at the Beitbridge Port of Entry since the beginning of this year.
During the period 1 March- July 31st 2007:
„X A total of 104 118 South Africans and 351 372 of Zimbabweans arrived in the country through Beitbridge and
„X A total of 102 099 South Africans and 291 621 Zimbabweans left the country through the same border gate
The Departmentˇ¦s statistics show no significant changes in arrival and departure patterns over this period. While there is no change in the number of legal migrants, recently there have been recorded increases in the number of people entering South Africa illegally.
Between January 1 and June 30 2007, a total of 1 917 persons applied for asylum permits in South Africa. Of these applicants 938 came from Democratic Republic of Congo, 433 from Ethiopia, 443 from Somalia and a smaller number from other countries. Only one person from Zimbabwe is recorded as having applied for asylum at this port of entry.
According to International Conventions on refugees and based on South Africaˇ¦s own Refugee Act, a refugee is a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence, has a well founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion and unable to return home for fear of persecution. As can be seen from the records virtually no people from Zimbabwe have applied for asylum in this country.
Calls for the establishment of refugee camps would thus seem to be misplaced. Significantly, neither the UNICEF nor United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has indicated the existence of an influx of refugees in South Africa.
Issued by the Chief Directorate: Communication Services
Jacky Mashapu
082 885 8449
|
Released by Chief Directorate: Communication
Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa(Head of Communication)-ronnie.mamoepa@dha.gov.za 082 990 4853 | 01/08/2007 |
|
