Refugees travel for 31 days

2009-10-29 07:27

Johannesburg - Mpumalanga border police on Wednesday arrested 39 Somali refugees on the South African side of the Mozambican border.

Captain Leonard Hlathi said they had travelled for 31 days to seek asylum in South Africa.

"They said they were fleeing from a war in their country."

The men were heading to Johannesburg.

The arrests brought to 70 the number of people arrested by the Macadamia border police, near Komatipoort, since September.

"During these two months we also arrested 12 Bangladeshis and 19 other Somalis."

Only one of the group arrested on Wednesday was able to understand English and communicate with the police. They were carrying nothing except water bottles when they were arrested along the border near Malelane.

Exhausted

"He told us they left two of their brothers in the bushes in Mozambique, as they couldn't go on any further."

The group started their journey in Somalia and walked for eight days to Kenya, living only on biscuits and water.

"From Somalia they were on a boat for 19 days, living on rice and water. From there they walked for four days before reaching the SA border."

The men were so exhausted they fell asleep while being interviewed by police.

"We don't know when the last time was that they ate anything," Hlathi said. They claimed they were robbed in Mozambique.

They were given food, and were being kept at the Komatipoort police station.

"The Department of Home Affairs will take over their administration."

- SAPA