Beit Bridge under scrutiny

2007-08-08 18:29

Johannesburg - A spokesperson for the Human Rights Commission, Joyce Tlou, says a delegation is to assess various aspects of the treatment of migrants during a trip to the Musina Beit Bridge border area.

Tlou said the trip, planned tentatively for the end of August, would, among others, be to assess the protection levels of migrants at the border post and the detention and deportation procedures of undocumented migrants.

The monitoring visit was not a reaction to any particular event or request because the issue of Zimbabwe and the protection on non-nationals in South Africa was something that had always been on the rights body's agenda, she said.

It wanted to get first-hand information on how the body could help the situation.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad said last week that the influx of refugees from Zimbabwe into South Africa was a serious problem.

"If we don't begin to assist the Zimbabweans to solve their own problems, the flow into South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia and other neighbours will increase.

"It is in our interest, nationally and morally, to see what we can do to facilitate," he said.

The Democratic Alliance said it welcomed the visit, saying it was the first positive move the party had seen since the Zimbabwean crisis worsened earlier in the year.

- SAPA