Important pillars of the South African economy, namely sustainable tourism and agriculture, as well as the success of the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa, can be seriously jeopardised by South Africa’s lack of a meaningful response to the desperate plight of the Zimbabwean people and to the security of South African citizens - especially in the northern parts of Limpopo.

This warning came this week from both local and international sources, with a clear indication that the entire situation is soon going to receive high-profile international media coverage.

At a special work session with the SAPS in Pretoria, the TAU SA this week drew high-level attention to a potentially explosive situation in which the illegal movement of foreigners across the borders with Zimbabwe and Mozambique is totally out of control. The TAU stated bluntly that the SAPS does not demonstrate much success in safeguarding local citizens against the increasing threat of ‘illegals’.

The chairman of the TAU’s national safety committee, Mr Gideon Meiring, said in an interview that mounting tension, frustration and despair are being caused amongst residents in Northern Limpopo by thousands of Zimbabweans who cross the border in a desperate bid for survival. Border patrols are ineffective and almost non-existent. There is no provision on the South African side to meet, accommodate and alleviate the very real need and distress of desperate men, women (some of them pregnant) and children of school-going age, who travel on foot through the African bush, brave the dangers of wild animals and the attacks of organized criminal gangs, in the hope of reaching safety and prosperity and a better future in South Africa.

Security Risk

Because they lack the official status of refugees and are treated as illegal immigrants, thousands are flooding clandestinely across commercial farmlands to avoid capture, detention and repatriation to the untenable situation in their country of origin. In the process, these desperate people pose an increasing security risk to the farming community but also to international tourists on these farms.

"Desperate illegal immigrants have little concern for life or property. Brutal barbaric farm attacks, farm murders and uncontrolled theft happen with frightening frequency. Landowners and farm workers, together with visiting tourists, are at risk," Meiring said.

Devastating Consequences

Meiring says the potentially devastating consequences of the continued massive uncontrolled illegal influx of Zimbabwean refugees is also causing growing concern amongst international observers, especially after the latest policy statement from the South African president, Mr Thabo Mbeki, that South Africans must simply "learn to live with" the existing unacceptable situation.

According to available statistics, an average of more than 2 000 refugees per week are flooding from Zimbabwe in an uncontrolled and illegal stream across the border. From towns like Louis Trichardt, an average of 50 of these people are rounded up every day and transported by truck back to Beit Bridge for repatriation. On a weekly basis, a special train with several thousand of these people are transported at high costs from expensive holding centres in Gauteng, back to the Zimbabwean border. The flood of illegal entries usually increases during the winter months when the Limpopo River is partially dried up, making it easier to cross. This increase coincides with the peak of the annual hunting season, which draws large numbers of international hunters from all over the world to the Limpopo Province.

The negative impact of the massive illegal intrusion on the farming and lucrative hunting and game-viewing tourist industry in Limpopo was highlighted by a report this week of an incident in which a British hunter and tour operator with television and radio media connections was surprised by a group of illegal infiltrators while he was on a paid hunting expedition on a game farm situated right next to the Baobab Toll Plaza in northern Limpopo.

The visitor, Mr Richard Sloggett, said the increasing need for security caused by the large numbers of uncontrolled illegal Zimbabwean immigrants is a cause for concern. In a report to the owner of the farm, Sloggett says "We saw hundreds of them on the N1 in trucks, walking and just sitting around at every junction. This is bad enough, but what really worried me and my guests was the number of Zimbabweans we found on your farm. We found fences cut, the remains of camp fires, evidence of illegal trapping and, as you know, on three occasions we bumped into groups of them, walking around your property." Sloggett at one stage was involved in the arrest of some of these illegal immigrants.

Other Destinations

"There are so many reported incidents of robbery and violence conducted by these people that we were left feeling very insecure," Sloggett said.

"As much as we enjoy visiting South Africa, I have to be honest - if you cannot assure us that the authorities are taking the problem of illegal immigration seriously and, more importantly, doing something to stop it, then I may have to suggest to my guests that we go to some other destination next year."

Sloggett says his guests, especially with women and children in the group, cannot enjoy their holiday when they are concerned that they may be robbed or worse. He says several TV and radio production companies are interested in this situation.

"I have already arranged a meeting with May Abdalla from the BBC about the arrest that I was personally involved in. I included some pictures which she wants to see. I believe she will soon be in your country to experience for herself the situation in the northern part of Limpopo Province. She indicated that there is a growing concern in the United Kingdom for this increasing threat to people visiting South Africa."

Sloggett says unless there is a change in the official attitude of the authorities in their regard for the safety of tourists, there may soon not be any tourists at all.

2010

"Bearing in mind that, in 2010, there are several million people due to arrive to watch the Football World Cup, any lack of initiative could result in serious political and financial problems for you all" Sloggett said.

The chairperson of the TAU SA North, Mr Dries Joubert, also expressed his deep concern with the deteriorating safety situation near the Zimbabwean border.

In a media statement released this week, he said the porous borders of South Africa are a ticking time bomb that could have serious consequences for all South Africans and could well affect the number of tourists visiting South Africa in 2010.

Danger Pay

Joubert said Government should again consider paying border farmers danger pay as compensation for government’s inability to protect law-abiding citizens, living in danger daily. He said the closing of the commandos in South Africa can be regarded as criminally irresponsible. No form of safety and protection was in place when the SANDF closed the commandos. Victims of crime in the border areas should investigate the possibility to hold the SANDF responsible for their pain, suffering and loss. Joubert said even now, in 2007, no national plan with regard to sector policing is firmly in place as yet.