South Africa has deported more than 100 000 Zimbabwean illegal immigrants through the Beitbridge border post between January and June this year, an increase by more than 50 % compared to the same period last year.

According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) programme manager, Mr Nick van de Vyver, 102 413 Zimbabwean illegal immigrants were deported through the Beitbridge border post during the first half of the year. "We handled 102 413 deportees between January and June this year at our centre and you will realise that, out of those deported, a majority are males, who constitute about 83 % while the remainder are females," he said.

Fifty eight percent of the illegal immigrants were assisted by IOM, while the remainder shunned the humanitarian assistance.

At the IOM Reception and Support Centre, deportees are offered food, shelter and free transport to travel to their respective homes. The centre has a budget for food of about R10 000 every month.

Van der Vyver said the highest number of deportees was recorded in January when 21 421 illegal immigrants were brought back to Zimbabwe, while the lowest number of deportees was 14 265 in April. About 17 000 Zimbabwean illegal immigrants are deported through Beitbridge border post every month.

The IOM Reception and Support Centre was jointly opened by the two governments of South Africa and Zimbabwe last year. The centre has handled thousands of people since its inception.

Van der Vyver said the daily figures of deportees varied. "We normally handle a bulk number of people when immigrants held at Lindela Repatriation Center near Johannesburg would have been cleared for new arrivals," he said.

Some of the deportees resort to using illegal entry points along the Limpopo River to enter South Africa. However, others approach unregistered cross border transporters, commonly known as omalayitsha, who then smuggle them into the country through Beitbridge border post for fees ranging from between R1 000 and R2 000.

Last year, 104 300 Zimbabweans were deported through Beitbridge border post.

The National Parliamentary Cluster Committee on Peace and Stability also expressed concern over the continuous flow of Zimbabwean illegal immigrants into the country during its recent tour of the border post on a fact-finding mission.

However, regardless of joint border patrols by police and soldiers from South Africa and Zimbabwe, scores of illegal immigrants continue to enter the country illegally.

They reportedly destroy fences along the borderline soon after crossing the Limpopo River in search of greener pastures in South Africa.

Zimbabwe’s economy continues to sink into the murky waters with inflation rated as the highest in the world, now pegged at 5000%.