Record number of illegal immigrants flooded South African borders this Christmas

An unprecedented number of illegal immigrants were caught attempting to cross the border from Zimbabwe to South Africa on 26 December. 

According to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), an influx of illegal border crossings over the festive season is an annual phenomenon; however, on 26 December, 1,174 undocumented foreigners were caught.

“This marks the first time our members have had to manage such a massive influx during this period of the festive season,” the SANDF said.

The Defence Force’s Captain Moses Semono added that this problem is specific to days such as Christmas Eve and the Day of Goodwill. 

The undocumented persons were apprehended in Limpopo and handed over to the South African Immigration Services “in good health and without injury.”

The SANDF said that the immigrants were not only unprecedented in number, but also “uncharacteristically aggressive.”

One rifleman for the SANDF, T.M Mokoena, sustained a stab wound to the forearm from one of the individuals. 

This was while he was defending himself from a “life-threatening” attack by the undocumented foreigner. 

The SANDF said that Mokeona was able to diffuse the situation without resorting to deadly force and has since received treatment from paramedics.

Defence Intelligence Services have taken over the matter for further processing, according to the SANDF.

Colonel Dikgabane Herold Tladi, the Officer Commanding Joint Tactical Headquarters Limpopo, commended the soldiers for their restraint and professionalism.

South African borders ‘effectively open’

Despite this recent success in preventing the illegal entry of hundreds of foreigners, the SANDF has recently been critiqued by the Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee and Portfolio Committee on Defence, 

The committees visited South Africa’s Limpopo borders and found that they are “effectively open.”

The visit focused on illegal cross-border trade and travel in the Limpopo border areas near Musina. 

The committee said it was “worrying” that government departments and entities responsible for border management are not working together to find lasting solutions to South Africa’s porous borders. 

It was discovered that only 15 military companies were patrolling the borders, when there should be 22. Even the 15 companies that are present are struggling due to staff shortages and a lack of vehicles and modern technology. 

The South African National Defence Force said that it lacks the manpower to properly monitor the long stretch of borders shared with Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique. 

Informal settlements along the Limpopo River make border patrol more difficult as some residents are aiding in illegal crossings. 

The committee observed damaged fencing and saw areas where illegal crossings regularly occur. Soldiers stationed in these areas said there were too few of them to effectively monitor and respond to the constant flow of border jumpers. 

A R40 million project to repair the fence was in place, but was cancelled after an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit.