SA farmers battle Zim immigrants

JOHANNESBURG – South African police said Wednesday that farmers on the northern border should stop their vigilante campaign against Zimbabweans crossing illegally into the country.

South Africa’s Human Rights Commission has also raised concerns about the treatment of those caught by the farmers, who claim they have been forced to take action because police have failed to stem the tide of illegal immigrants fleeing Zimbabwe’s economic collapse. Photographers and television news crews have captured dramatic images of farmers in vehicles used for game spotting patrolling border fences and hunting down those who sneak through the many man-made holes.Footage shows farmers rounding up men and women and cuffing them with cable ties before handing them over to police.Police commissioner for Limpopo province Calvin Sengani said, “There is no truth in the allegations …that farmers have taken control of the borderlines in the province.”Members of the public cannot be allowed to patrol borderlines and public roads and arrest illegal foreigners entering the country, as crossing the borderline is not a criminal offence that justifies harsh action,” he said, the South African Press Association reported.Recent reports say that about 4 000 Zimbabweans are illegally crossing every night and about 6 000 are deported every week from the border town of Musina.After meeting with police involved in border operations, Sengani denied that there was a crisis and said police were in control of the situation.”No significant increase of the influx of illegal foreigners, compared to previous years, could be detected,” he said, adding that in some places there was a decrease.However, Chris van Zyl, manager of safety and security for the Transvaal Agriculture Union, said farmers were trying to protect their property and help stabilise the situation.”What must these guys do? Just sit back and do nothing, where in that kind of rural area there is no police presence,” he said.He said there had been a noticeable increase in illegal immigrants as well as reports of thefts of stock, game and private property.Nampa-APPhotographers and television news crews have captured dramatic images of farmers in vehicles used for game spotting patrolling border fences and hunting down those who sneak through the many man-made holes.Footage shows farmers rounding up men and women and cuffing them with cable ties before handing them over to police.Police commissioner for Limpopo province Calvin Sengani said, “There is no truth in the allegations …that farmers have taken control of the borderlines in the province.”Members of the public cannot be allowed to patrol borderlines and public roads and arrest illegal foreigners entering the country, as crossing the borderline is not a criminal offence that justifies harsh action,” he said, the South African Press Association reported.Recent reports say that about 4 000 Zimbabweans are illegally crossing every night and about 6 000 are deported every week from the border town of Musina.After meeting with police involved in border operations, Sengani denied that there was a crisis and said police were in control of the situation.”No significant increase of the influx of illegal foreigners, compared to previous years, could be detected,” he said, adding that in some places there was a decrease.However, Chris van Zyl, manager of safety and security for the Transvaal Agriculture Union, said farmers were trying to protect their property and help stabilise the situation.”What must these guys do? Just sit back and do nothing, where in that kind of rural area there is no police presence,” he said.He said there had been a noticeable increase in illegal immigrants as well as reports of thefts of stock, game and private property.Nampa-AP