The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) says Home Affairs is still checking and verifying if there are any South African nationals among the 14 people arrested in Zimbabwe for allegedly crossing the border illegally.
Dirco head of public diplomacy Clayson Monyela told Sunday World this week that his department has asked Home Affairs to verify the nationality of the 14 people arrested.
Monyela said once Home Affairs has verified the nationality of the 14 arrested people, then that will determine how Dirco responds to the matter.
Zim agency confirmed arrests
According to various media reports this month, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission said 14 South Africans have recently been detained in Zimbabwean jails. It said out of the 14 arrested South Africans, 11 are male and three are female.
The commission said the majority of the South Africans have been held for crossing the border illegally or illegal migration.
“What we know is that they [Zimbabwe police] have arrested about 14 people. We should not call them South Africans because we do not know that yet. Their nationality is yet to be determined. We have asked Home Affairs to confirm if the arrested people are South Africans or not. Once we get confirmation of the nationalities, it will determine our level of involvement in this matter,” said Monyela.
“We have noted that the people arrested are apparently in line to be deported from Zimbabwe. Because apparently there is an issue of a possible overstay in Zimbabwe and other matters. If you are in one of the SADC member countries, you do not need a Visa. All you need is a passport and then you are fine. It [arrests] would not be a Visa-related issue. It is unclear why they were arrested.
Home Affairs still verifying matter
“Home Affairs is still checking if the people arrested are South Africans. Once that is determined, we will state what we are going to do to take the matter forward. We do not know who they are,” said Monyela.
Monyela was asked how long it will take Home Affairs to verify the nationalities of the arrested 14 people.
“It is difficult to put a timeline on a process like this. Home Affairs is busy with that process,” he said.
Minister’s spokesperson clarifies law
Meanwhile, when asked if Dirco Minister Ronald Lamola was aware of the alleged arrests, Lamola’s spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, said South Africa does not bypass another country’s legal processes.
“As you may know, when a sovereign state finds that any individual has violated its sovereign laws, it is a matter between that state and the accused people. Therefore, an expectation that South African government must circumvent the legal processes of another country is not justifiable,” said Phiri.
