Migrants and Military Clash at South Africa-Zimbabwe Border in Desperate Crossings

Every day, Fadzai Musindo crosses from Zimbabwe to South Africa, opting for the perilous informal routes near the Limpopo River.

For this 43-year-old mother of three, her job as a “runner” is crucial for supporting her family amidst Zimbabwe’s economic downturn.

Carrying goods for clients from South Africa back to Zimbabwe, Musindo avoids the official Beitbridge border post due to cost and inconvenience.

Stamping her passport daily would mean frequent replacements, an expense she cannot afford, leading her to use the informal crossings.

She navigates the river’s banks with other women, forming groups to deter potential threats from smugglers and robbers.

Musindo claims familiarity with the soldiers allows her to pass unhindered, though the route is fraught with risks like crocodiles and crime.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has intensified operations along this border under Operation Corona, aiming to curb smuggling and illegal immigration.

Patrolling soldiers hidden in the grass intercept migrants, with some like a pregnant woman being detained, while others manage to escape.

Major Shihlangoma Mahlahlane notes the limitations of their jurisdiction, stopping at the river’s midpoint, which complicates their efforts.

The operation, running from September to April, seeks to reduce informal border crossings, yet the lure of opportunities in South Africa persists.

Despite a new $2.1 million fence, illegal crossings continue, with smugglers exploiting gaps in both the physical barrier and legal enforcement.

At night, the guma-gumas signal each other with fires, guiding more people across the river, creating a continuous cycle of migration.

Those caught face deportation, but many return, hoping for better lives or to secure benefits like child grants for newborns.

The Border Management Authority has ramped up deportations, but the rapid process often leads to family separations and further distress, according to experts.

On the Zimbabwean side, a crackdown on smuggling has led to increased vehicle inspections, causing long delays at Beitbridge.

For Musindo, these delays mean less income as she waits in queues, pushing her towards the quicker, albeit riskier, river crossings.

She can make multiple river trips in a day when the border is congested, maximizing her earnings despite the dangers.

Major Mahlahlane admits that while they focus on illegal activities, the dry riverbed during drought periods provides numerous entry points.

Villages along the Limpopo also partake in smuggling, with goods like cigarettes evading high South African import taxes.

Experts suggest that border security alone won’t solve the issue, as smugglers adapt to new measures, finding alternative routes.

James Chapman from the Scalabrini Center emphasizes that a human rights-based approach is needed for sustainable border management.

Landau from the University of Witwatersrand points out that the real issue is not at the border but in South Africa’s urban areas, where crime and inequality are rife.

Xenophobia continues to be a significant issue, with foreigners often scapegoated for local problems, yet South Africa remains a beacon for those fleeing economic hardship.

As January approaches, the need to fund education for her children drives Musindo back to the river, her only viable option for work.