The South African Department of Home Affairs deported 179 Zimbabwean ex-convicts through Beit Bridge Border Post in January and February.

The assistant regional immigration manager in charge of the Beit Bridge Border Post, Mr Charles Gwede, said they handled 179 Zimbabwean deportees in January and February. The Zimbabweans were deported from South Africa for committing various criminal offences.

In January, 52 Zimbabweans were deported, while February saw the number increasing to 127.

“South Africa no longer deports Zimbabwean border jumpers since the abolishment of visa requirements in May last year, but they still do deport those who commit criminal offences. Since the beginning of the year, we received a total of 179 Zimbabwean ex-convicts who were brought back,” he said.

Zimbabweans can now get permits to stay legally in the country for six months without facing deportation, following an announcement in May last year by the then Minister of Home Affairs, Mrs Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. The permit gives the migrants the right to work and get health care and education, a move that also saw a reduction in the number of Zimbabweans claiming political asylum in South Africa.

Zimbabweans constitute the highest number of foreigners living in South Africa.

Under the new arrangement, Zimbabweans are allowed to apply for the permit through the Department of Home Affairs, which is then processed with the UN refugee agency.