On July 19, 2024, South African officials carried out a joint operation, arresting 208 undocumented individuals in Limpopo Province’s Sekhukhune District. The group included 176 Zimbabweans, as well as people from Mozambique and India.
The operation, which started on the evening of July 18 and ended the next day, targeted illegal activities in Marble Hall and Groblersdall. The detainees were sent back to their home countries, except for the Indian nationals who are still in custody awaiting deportation.
Authorities also confiscated a white Toyota Hilux with suspected stolen oranges and a plasma TV found on a local farm. The arrested individuals face charges under South Africa’s Immigration Act.
This crackdown is part of South Africa’s efforts to address illegal immigration and job market concerns.
Some farmers worry about the potential negative impact on agricultural production, as many South Africans avoid certain labor-intensive jobs despite limited educational opportunities.
Economists warn that while the immediate effects might be minimal, the long-term impact on South Africa’s agriculture could be significant.
In other news, exiled musician Thomas Mapfumo has called for the complete dismantling of Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu-PF.
This comes despite President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s recent promise not to seek another term beyond 2028, which he announced during a speech in Mutare.
Mapfumo, a vocal critic of Mnangagwa, dismissed the president’s assurances as insincere.
