Things gradually return to normal, as far as is possible, in South Africa and in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately, I mean the oppression continues with the same authorities having regained control. They continue to get worse – Mugabe starves us and Mbeki ignores us. The biggest mistake we make is to believe life cannot get any worse. If things had got this bad overnight we would have never accepted it.
While the xenophobic attacks have stopped and most people have gone back to their homes, the Department of Home Affairs has also returned to its old ways. It has continued ignoring the big queues of undocumented people and is deporting them in large numbers.
There are, however, some developments: in the next few weeks the department will be giving temporary documents to all the Zimbabweans in the displaced refugee camps. These documents will be valid until December. The department claims it will be giving all those affected by the recent attacks temporary documentation. I will believe it when I see it! Secondly, the Cape Town pick-up system is being reviewed and there will be some changes, but expect no improvements on the number being served.
Advice to border jumpers:
A huge number of you, who are still in Zimbabwe, are definitely coming to South Africa to get away from Zanu (PF) and begin new lives as refugees. Please accept my advice:
1. Be very careful of the guma gumas; some are good, but most are thieves. A guma guma is someone who takes money to lead you across the border, but many of them led you into the bush and rape and rob you.
2. You might need to bribe the Zimbabwean soldiers on your way out, about R50. If they catch you and you do not have money they usually beat you.
3. The trip is very long and you walk through the bush for more than 30 kilometres, so make sure you drink lots and eat lots the day before you leave. Try to carry food and water with you. When you get into South Africa you will not be able to get food or water with out risk of being caught. Remember people have died from starvation and thirst many times before.
4. If you are arrested for not having papers make sure you speak to an immigration officer. This is your right, and when you do make sure you tell him you are an asylum seeker and you want to apply for refuge. Legally he or she should not deport you if you make it clear that you are planning to apply for asylum. If they do not let you see an immigration officer, or still deport you when you have told the immigration officer you are seeking refuge, please SMS me if and when you can.
5. If you fall sick or hurt badly in on the South African side of the border don’t risk your life; rather make your way to the nearest road and wait for someone to take you to hospital. There are lots of patrols by police and soldiers so if you go and wait at a road you will meet them. They will want to deport you, but first they will take you to hospital.
6. Do not work for farmers near the border unless there are Zimbabweans working there, who have been paid for their work. Lots of farmers don’t pay you instead they call the soldiers to deport you after your month or two of work.
7. Be careful of the farmers, they get very angry because people break their fences. Sometimes they even shoot people trying to cross through their land.
8. When (hopefully) you arrive in Johannesburg start trying to get your application for asylum seeker’s status in as soon as you can.
I promise you all it will not be easy, it never is, but what are your alternatives? If you have any take them! God bless you.
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