MPANDONI – The adopted son of the MEC in the Premier's Office was nearly deported to Zimbabwe, as he was suspected of being an illegal immigrant, because "he is too dark."

Mpfariseni Walter Munyai (22) was saved by his adopted mother, Catherine Mabuza, when the Home Affairs officers where in the process of deporting him last Wednesday afternoon.

Munyai was on his way from Pretoria Technikon branch in Limpopo, where he is following a course in Human Resource Management, when he was confronted by an officer from the Department of Home Affairs. Munyai said he was walking past the Library Gardens and Home Affairs offices when a Northern-Sotho-speaking man confronted him.

"This man stopped me and asked me to accompany him to the office as he was suspected me to be an illegal immigrant, because of my dark colour. He then asked me to give him my passport, which I did not have. He then told me I was talking rubbish, while scolding me," said Munyai.

Munyai, a Venda boy from Mapandoni in Venda, said he was questioned several times by the officer, who was then joined by a certain Mr Venter, who demanded to know why he could not speak Northern Sotho of Afrikaans.

He said he was forced to fill in some forms so that he could be deported, of which he refused. He then phoned his adopted mother, Mabuza, who was refused permission to see him for more than thirty minutes, even though she tried to explain that he was a true South African.

"These officials are misrepresenting the office by not doing their job properly. There is no way one can be deported for being too black or for not being able to speak Afrikaans or Northern Sotho. Venda is one of the official languages in this country. If that person cannot understand other languages, there must be an interpreter, according to Batho Pele principles. My concern is that he showed them his student card and ID, which they told him was rubbish," fumed Mabuza.

Mabuza said she had adopted Munyai because he did not have parents, which is in support of what Pres Thabo Mbeki had said earlier this year when he said people should adopt children with no parents, to avoid poverty and crime. Mabuza urged the community to report any ill treatment from any office to a toll free number 080 000 2383.

Munyai was born on April 6, 1980 at Mpandoni Village. He is the firth born to his mother, who neglected him at the age of 12. Munyi stayed in a plastic shack in the veld until when Mabuza built a one-roomed house for him early last year.

She then paid for his school fees, groceries and his clothing and at present she is paying for his studies.