By Irivine Makuyana and Lerato Diale
SOUTH AFRICA – Two border jumpers died and the other two were rescued following a failed attempt to cross the crocodile infested Limpopo River before illegally entering SA, police said.
Police spokesperson Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi said: “A total of 73 people were arrested for trying to cross into the country illegally, with about two drowning while trying to cross through the Limpopo river.”
Mulaudzi said despite the crocodile infested river being flooded, immigrants were still taking chances.
He said the illegal crossings at the border post were no different to any other time of the year like Easter and other holidays.
Mulaudzi said the operation was under way to destroy the makeshift boats used by cross border touts known as the Guma Gumas, to help illegal immigrants to cross the river.
“As police we are concerned of a growing trend where the Guma Gumas will ferry illegal immigrants for an agreed fee and in the middle of the river, they hike the price which if you fail to pay they throw you in the river,” he said.
Guma Gumas are a syndicate of illegal cross-border guides operating from the Zimbabwean side. They know the underground routes to SA very well.
They charge as much as R350 per head to take people into SA, the source said.
One of the women, who declined to be named for fear of deportation, said they had all been refused official entry for reasons ranging from unpaid fines, overstaying and the lack of proper documentation. The New Age
