South Africa says 'no freebie deportations'

South Africa says 'no freebie deportations'

SOME Zimbabweans being deported in this file photo

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By Staff Reporter

HUNDREDS of Zimbabwean immigrants held in South African detention centres will not be deported before Christmas -- because the South African authorities fear they just want a free ride home.

South African Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said Tuesday she had postponed the deportation of about 2 000 illegal immigrants before the festive period.

Of the 2000, about 900 are Zimbabwean and the rest from Mozambique, Nigeria, Malawi, Swaziland and Lesotho.

After the announcement, some immigrants are said to have rioted at the Lindela detention camp -- breaking doors and windows.

Department spokesperson Nkosana Sibuyi said the minister had said there was a "tendency by some foreign nationals who are illegally in South Africa to hand themselves in voluntarily so that can get a free ride back home, which is a festive phenomenon".

Mapisa-Nqakula made the announcement during a visit to the Lindela repatriation centre in Krugersdorp on the West Rand.

Sibuyi said: "The minister repeated the department's position that all illegal immigrants would be deported only after the festive season."

Sibuyi said Mapisa-Nqakula also observed that some illegal immigrants detained at the centre "deliberately hid their nationalities and identities and pretended to be from war-torn countries so they could acquire refugee status".

He said this would cause a delay in deportation as the immigrants would have to go through the channels of applying for a refugee permit. Sibuyi said on Monday that Mapisa-Nqakula received a report that illegal immigrants had rioted at the centre.

"Six illegal immigrants rebelled and broke doors and windows - as they were aware the department had taken a decision not to deport them."

On Tuesday, during her visit, the minister ordered the arrest of the six people.

"The minister ordered the six be arrested and jailed so they would not influence the rest of the people. They will go through the normal court processes of this country."

Sibuyi said Mapisa-Nqakula told the immigrants that "those who violate South Africa's laws will be detained and deported on our time".
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