Unauthorized Migration into South Africa

This BBC article offers a fascinating glimpse into the reality of unauthorized migration from Zimbabwe into South Africa.

Some highlights:

• Various migrants discuss the dangers of the crossing–highlighting gang violence, including rapes and murder. “You see skeletons,” one reported.
• Discussion of the physical terrain–“bush” with wild animals in addition to the gangs; “trampled”  border fencing; a river that is “all but dried up.”
• Reasons for migration–poverty, hunger, commerce (some move between the two countries, engaging in unauthorized trade–bringing goods from Zimbabwe to sell in South Africa).
• Undocumented migration as a political issue in the upcoming South African elections. One spokeswoman stated: “It would be offensive to not even speak about the reality of what it does to our public systems when people don’t pay taxes, but expect to live and benefit from the goods and services that our government provides.”
• What South African border authorities look like. There’s a photograph and they look shockingly like U.S. Border Patrol agents. The same olive green pants and shirt, coupled with a lighter green/tan tactical vest.

-KitJ