Herman Mashaba, the leader of ActionSA, an opposition political party in South Africa, has condemned the government’s directive to allow children of undocumented foreigners, including Zimbabweans, to attend schools in the country.
According to a memo issued by South Africa’s Department of Basic Education (DBE), for the 2025 academic year, schools must admit all learners, regardless of their documentation status.
This includes students who fail to provide identification for the country’s matric years and undocumented foreign pupils.
Speaking on South Africa’s national broadcaster SABC, Mashaba said that if he were in authority, he would not allow any undocumented person or learner to benefit from South Africa’s already strained resources. Said Mashaba (<a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/flush-out-illegal-zimbabwean-immigrants-children-from-our-schools-says-mashaba-alleges-they-overstretch-resources-in-south-africas-education-sector/">via NewZimbabwe.com</a>):
<blockquote>
South Africa now seems to be a country where you do not need passports or VISAs, they just have to walk through our porous borders. Our sovereignty is not there anymore…
I do not understand the logic behind this. The people who made this decision want to make sure that South Africans are as poor as possible.
We know our neighbouring countries are dysfunctional as a result of South Africa also not assisting but we are making matters worse.
I am not sure who they are trying to satisfy. If I had my way, there was no way we would allow anyone without documentation in our country.
Allowing them to use services when we cannot afford them for our own people (does not make sense). You even find in some schools children numbering 90 in a class.
</blockquote>
A significant number of Zimbabweans, potentially in the millions, are living and working in South Africa without legal documentation.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Herman Mashaba from ActionSA in South Africa wants to kick out Zimbabwean children from school if they don't have proper papers. The government said all kids, even if they are undocumented, can go to school starting in 2025. Mashaba thinks this is wrong because it takes resources away from South African kids. He believes the country is allowing too many people without papers to live there. Many Zimbabweans are in South Africa without the right papers. Mashaba thinks this will make South Africans poorer and their schools overcrowded.

Mashaba Demands Expulsion Of Undocumented Zimbabwean Children From South African Schools

Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi, has appealed to his compatriots who reside in the neighbouring country to respect its laws.
Speaking in Pretoria on Thursday, Hamadziripi said not all Zimbabweans residing in South Africa are involved in criminal activities. He said:
<blockquote>
Clearly, it is like in any basket, you will get bad apples. There are those focused on them.
We have thousands of Zimbabweans making positive contributions in South Africa.
We don’t hear much about them. We hear (only) about those who tarnish the name of Zimbabwe.
In our country, we want everybody to respect the law. We also expect them to respect the laws of South Africa.
</blockquote>
Hamadziripi said Zimbabwe was worried about the ill-treatment of its citizens by South Africans. He said:
<blockquote>
Our route is through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) to raise our concerns.
This is not the right thing to prevent people from accessing public services.
We have raised that with Dirco about such treatment. We wish those practices to stop.
Regarding those who were recently evicted from a building in Johannesburg, we interacted with authorities, including the police.
Our government has provided funding to assist those people who wish to return home.
Where our people need assistance, we have mobilised to help them.
</blockquote>
Hamadziripi said he didn’t know how many undocumented and documented Zimbabweans were living in South Africa. | <a href="https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/in-any-basket-you-get-bad-apples-ambassador-says-many-zimbabweans-do-good-in-sa-20230203">News24</a>

SA: Ambassador Hamadziripi Says Majority Of Zimbabweans Are Law-abiding

This week <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Operation_Dudula">Operation Dudula</a> announced its intention to <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/operation-dudula-plans-to-camp-outside-gauteng-schools/">camp outside schools in Gauteng</a> to prevent undocumented foreign children and teachers from accessing education in the country.
The targeting brought to light the typical problems faced by foreigners in the country, particularly Zimbabweans.
Many Zimbabweans in South Africa are economic migrants who have left their country in search of better opportunities but often find themselves living in poverty and facing discrimination in the labor market. 
The following is a list of the things the Zimbabwean diaspora in South Africa, especially the undocumented ones, have to deal with:
<h2>Xenophobia</h2>
Zimbabweans, along with other African immigrants, have been targeted in violent attacks in South Africa in the past. In recent memory is the April 2022 brutal killing of <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/zimbabwean-man-brutally-murdered-by-vigilantes-in-sa-was-not-a-criminal/">Elvis Nyathi</a> who was murdered simply for having attempted to flee from a vigilante mob.
Analysts have however often highlighted that it’s not necessarily Xenophobia (a dislike of or prejudice against foreigners) but Afrophobia (a dislike of black Africans) as evidence suggests that non-African foreigners are tolerated by the locals.
<h2>Economic struggles</h2>
Many Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa are underemployed or unemployed and struggle to make a living. Those without legal documents are often exploited by employers who take advantage of their illegal status.
Those that managed to get some employment also live in fear of losing their jobs if authorities and vigilante groups like Operation Dudula push for the locals to be given the jobs instead.
In 2022 one of the actions of Operation Dudula was to move from company to company searching out foreigners and demanding that the employers terminate their contracts and offer the jobs to locals instead.
<h2>Legal issues</h2>
Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa often face difficulties obtaining legal documentation, such as work permits, which can make it harder for them to find employment or access services.
Many are undocumented and may be hesitant to seek legal help for fear of being discovered and deported. Even those who do have documentation may struggle to navigate the legal system and understand their rights, due to language barriers and cultural differences.
Additionally, many Zimbabweans in South Africa may not have the financial resources to afford legal representation, which can make it difficult for them to assert their rights or seek justice in cases of discrimination or abuse.
This lack of access to legal support and protection can leave them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, and can make it difficult for them to resolve disputes or seek remedies for wrongful treatment.
<h2>Discrimination</h2>
Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa may face discrimination based on their nationality, which can make it more difficult for them to access services or find employment.
Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa may face challenges in accessing basic services like healthcare, education and housing due to a lack of legal documents.
For those that eventually get permanent residence or citizenship, their ID cards are distinctly different from local South Africans making it easy for public service providers, employers, and potential clients to discriminate against them.
In 2022, a South African health official was <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/south-africa-doctor-tells-zimbabweans-to-get-medical-treatment-in-zimbabwe/">filmed accusing a sick Zimbabwean woman on a hospital bed</a> that people like her were unfairly burdening the South African healthcare system.
<h2>Mental Health and Homesickness</h2>
Many Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa are separated from their families and communities, which can be emotionally difficult. Many therefore wish they could return home but find it hard to restart a life in Zimbabwe after spending a considerable amount of time in South Africa.
Another cause of stress for undocumented Zimbabweans is living in fear of arrest and deportation.
In addition, newly arrived Zimbabweans especially may face difficulty navigating the cultural and language differences between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
<h2>Targeting by criminals</h2>
One serious issue is that of being targeted by criminals due to perceptions of being vulnerable.
Zimbabweans in South Africa may be seen as easy targets for crime because they are often living in poverty and may be unfamiliar with the area and its dangers.
Additionally, they may be reluctant to report crimes to the police due to fear of deportation or mistrust of the authorities. This can make them more susceptible to crimes such as theft, mugging, and extortion. It can also make them more vulnerable to human trafficking, as they may be lured by false promises of work and then forced into labor or prostitution.

The Difficult Life Of Zimbabwean Immigrants In South Africa

The Western Cape health department said that it is investigating claims made by Operation Dudula that Groote Schuur Hospital is only hiring illegal foreign nationals, while locals are sold jobs.
Operation Dudula members marched to the hospital on Saturday to hand over a memorandum.
The group alleged that Groote Schuur hospital only hires foreign nationals for positions such as cooks, porters, and even security vacancies.
The provincial health department’s spokesperson, Dr Saadiq Kariem, told <a href="https://www.enca.com/news/groote-schuur-hospital-wc-health-department-probe-dudula-allegations">eNCA</a> reporter, Nobesuthu Hejana, that this isn’t the first time they’ve heard such allegations. Said Kariem:
<blockquote>
Their concerns, we’ve accepted the memorandum and we understand what the concerns are, but what we’ll do from the hospital and provincial side is obviously investigate the concerns.
</blockquote>
Operation Dudula has given the hospital 14 days to take corrective action.

Operation Dudula Accuses SA Hospital Of Only Hiring Illegal Foreign Nationals

Former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, has refuted claims that the bulk of crimes in that country are committed by foreign nationals.
Mbeki said it is wrong to paint all foreign nationals with the same brush, adding that foreigners who are committing crimes in South Africa must be arrested and deported.
He made the remarks during a conversation with students and diplomats in Pretoria. Said, Mbeki:
<blockquote>
We need to walk away from the false notion that the bulk of crime in this country is caused by foreigners. It is not correct.
The bulk of crime in this country is caused is committed by South Africans. There are foreigners who commit crimes.
You should arrest them and charge them. This is what we should do and avoid labelling other people.
</blockquote>
Mbeki also said South Africans are not xenophobic.
The former President said that South Africa owes African countries for its independence, especially countries such as Angola and Mozambique where thousands of people were killed by the racist regime for supporting the country’s struggle for freedom. He said:
<blockquote>
The African continent has felt, for a very long time, very, very close to this country, that it has its own responsibility to assist in the liberation of the people of South Africa.
You take a country like Mozambique just across our border, which lost thousands and thousands of people killed because it was refusing to walk away from the support here. The same thing happened in Angola.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/mbeki-says-south-africans-are-not-xenophobic-and-foreigners-should-not-be-labeled-as-criminals/">SABC News</a>

Mbeki Says South Africans Are Not Xenophobic

Three Zimbabwean nationals were burnt to death in Chavani Village outside Elim on Saturday, reported <a href="https://www.groundup.org.za/article/three-zimbabweans-burnt-to-death-in-elim/">GroundUp</a>.
The three Zimbabweans had been accused of stealing cables and solar panels.
Following the attack, about 200 immigrants fled their homes into the bush or other villages. Some were forced out of their houses by vigilante groups.
Makhado police spokesperson Sergeant Tshifhiwa Irene Radzilani said the three Zimbabweans “were burnt beyond recognition”. 
Police have opened murder cases but no arrests have been made.
Malume Chinabwa, from the Kagisano (seTswana for living together harmoniously) programme, run by the Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) in Elim and Musina said:
<blockquote>
Since Saturday more than 200 foreigners – Zimbabweans, Mozambicans and Malawians – have been calling me for assistance.
During the day, they try to visit townships where they are not known, in search of food but spend the night in bushes.
</blockquote>
Elim resident Francis Thiba told GroundUp that at about 6 PM on Saturday a group of youths, including women, came to his residence.
He said his wife and three children were ordered to leave and they fled to the bush. Police later rescued them the same day.
Thiba was beaten on the head and in the face before he was rescued by Waterval police at about 7 PM who took him to Elim hospital.
He was discharged on Tuesday and joined his family at Waterval police station, where they had sheltered for three days.
Thiba, who has been living in Shirley village, Elim, for over ten years, has been in South Africa since 2000.
He said they are prepared to leave for Zimbabwe, but he has no money for transport.
Meanwhile, police have called on the community not to take the law into their hands.

Three Zimbabweans Burnt  Beyond Recognition In South Africa

A truck was reportedly set on fire in a suspected xenophobic attack on the N1 highway near Worcester, Cape Town, South Africa.
According to Eye Witness News, the arsonists (three of them) blocked the road, ordered the driver out and torched the truck.
Chairperson of Parliament’s Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Mandla Rayi said that they will not tolerate attacks motivated by xenophobia. He said:
<blockquote>We are against xenophobia, and we don’t agree with attacking workers. It doesn’t matter which continent or part of the world they come from.
… We’ll be engaging with the affected ministeries, especially the Department of Labour.</blockquote>
Meanwhile, xenophobic attacks have flared up in Gauteng Province since Sunday with five people confirmed dead and over 180 South Africans arrested for looting and torching businesses.
<h4>More: <a href="https://ewn.co.za/2019/09/04/attackers-block-road-torch-truck-on-n1-near-worcester?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eye Witness News</a></h4>

Truck Blocked And Set On Fire In Cape Town

The Zimbabwean Community in South Africa, has approached the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and its political allies to intervene in fresh xenophobic violence in Pretoria and Johannesburg.
The chairperson of the Zimbabwean Community in South Africa, Mr Ngqabutho Mabhena, accused opposition parties of mobilising communities to attack foreigners in a bid to destabilise the ANC led Government. Said Mabhena:
<blockquote>In our view, the xenophobic attacks are well co-ordinated and political. Opposition parties which are fighting the ANC government want to make South Africa ungovernable and they are mobilising communities to attack foreigners. We have engaged ANC, Cosatu and the South African National Civic Organisation to help address the problems since they have branches in those communities.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.herald.co.zw/xenophobia-zim-migrants-engage-anc/">Herald</a>

Border Jumpers Latest News

Latest Jobs