deported zama zamas
South Africa’s Home Affairs Department is running counter-return operations along South Africa’s border lines to stop deported illegal miners from returning to the country.THE GREENSCAPE GROUP / Flickr

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SA Home Affairs monitors borders to block returned deported zama zamas

South Africa’s Home Affairs Department aims to join forces with neighboring countries to fight illegal mining and halt cross-border movement.

28-08-23 19:30
deported zama zamas
South Africa’s Home Affairs Department is running counter-return operations along South Africa’s border lines to stop deported illegal miners from returning to the country.THE GREENSCAPE GROUP / Flickr

The Home Affairs Department actively prevents deported illegal miners from re-entering South Africa by patrolling the borders. On Sunday, they updated Parliament on fighting illegal mining in Gauteng.

The mineral resources and energy committee visited Riverlea in Johannesburg to oversee the illegal mining issue affecting the area, according to EWN.

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SA HOME AFFAIRS MAKES SURE THOSE WHO ARE DEPORTED DON’T COME BACK

Home Affairs’ Albert Matsaung said: “To make sure there are those who are deported don’t come back, so those operations are made along the border and not very far from our borderline, especially within the Zimbabwean side, Mozambique side, and Lesotho side because those are the areas that have got a sizeable number of people that we are deporting.”

Earlier in the month, a number of undocumented immigrants were deported back to their origin countries.

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The plan involves stepping up border watch, sharing information with nearby countries, and improving teamwork among law enforcers.

South Africa’s Home Affairs Department aims to join forces with neighboring countries to fight illegal mining and halt cross-border movement.

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On a recent visit to Riverlea, Members of Parliment learned about local communities’ struggles due to illegal mining.

The teamwork among government departments has received both praise for addressing the issue and criticism for a lack of substantial outcomes.

UNDOCUMENTED SETTLERS RETURNED TO THEIR ORIGINS

Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the Provincial Police spokesperson, verified that Limpopo police deported 1387 undocumented immigrants. Additionally, they arrested 50 individuals for offenses including illegal liquor sales, assault causing grievous bodily harm, sheltering undocumented persons, and violating immigration laws.

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These actions took place during the cross-border operations held from July 31 to 2 August , in Musina Policing Precinct and Beitbridge Border Post in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province.

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