 border chose to attempt to swim across the Limpopo river. Crocodiles got all of them.
At Johannesburg I confess my identity to Mandla, who laughes at my stupidity. For me the adventure is over, because I am legally in the country. Not so my companions. What does the future hold for them, as illegal immigrants?
The answer is, they stand a fair chance of remaining in South Africa, principally because, coming from Matabeleland, they speak South African languages such as Zulu, Sotho, Venda, Ndebele and Xhosa. This means they can integrate into society relatively easily.
They can apply for asylum, but in Jo'burg the authorities apply the strict rule of law that says they can't be refugees because Zimbabwe is not at war. However, authorities down in Cape Town are said to be a softer touch, and have so far granted 2,000 Zimbabweans permission to stay in the country.
Other escapees from further north in Zimbabwe tend to speak Shona, a language not known in South Africa. They face a |
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| Three of those at the border chose to swim across the Limpopo river. Crocodiles got them all |
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bleaker future. Many head for the United Methodist Church in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, where they get food, clothes and blankets. At present 1,500 refugees are sheltered at the church.
South African police systematically raid houses, shops and clubs in the search for the estimated one million Zimbabweans currently living illegally in the country. They are sent back to their home country by train.
Nicola Simmonds, information and communications chief at the International Organisation for Migration on the Beitbridge border, which oversees the deportations, says the South African government have sent 130,000 Zimbabweans 'home' during the past 10 months. Currently between 200 and 400 are dealt with every day.
Back on Zimbabwean soil, they are usually freed, unless they are wanted for criminal offences. Many - perhaps most - will soon have another crack at escaping. They'll be joined by others. As long as Mugabe holds sway, they'll keep on trying. 
FIRST POSTED MAY 7, 2007
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