JOHANNESBURG - The South Africa government launched an operation at Beitbridge border post Those caught in the net were given a written note, which they were told to present to the authorities in Pretoria in order to defend their status. Kessary Mbeba, not his real name, says he has lived in South Africa for 20 years and considers South Africa his home. But he has lost his documents. Zimbabweans who allegedly fraudulently acquired their South African documents say they cannot access their savings or claim their belongings without their documents. I had about R5000 savings in my account but I cannot claim my money now. I went to the bank to withdraw some money and my card was swallowed. The bank officials told me to bring my identity card which was taken by the home affairs officials with my passport, said Mbeba.
He has worked for his current employer for 10 years plus and if he is to quit he is entitled to more that R10000. A security guard who called himself Ndabezinhle says he went home before he was paid his salary. He says his employer deposited the money into his account, but his documents were confiscated and he cannot access his salary now. Tsoarelo Tlou from Gwanda says he was due to receive a house built by the government for low income earners but cannot claim it now. When I was about to leave for home I received the note which informed me that I could claim a four-roomed house under RDP. But now all is lost. Most Zimbabweans interviewed say they had left some savings in the bank but cannot access it now. Many admitted that they had secured their documents through fraudulent means, as that was the only way to survive. So there is no point them going to Pretoria to try and collect their documents.