Communities along the Limpopo River outside Musina on the border of Zimbabwe and South Africa say there is a seasonal spike in illegal river crossings, when the river is dry. Some areas serve as a safe haven for smugglers and undocumented migrants.
‘Zimbabweans on the other side of the river receive smuggled goods [that are] transported by donkey carts and vehicles to various villages in Zimbabwe,” Malindi Kwinda told Daily Maverick as he sat at the Ha Tshirundu settlement on the South African side of the border with Zimbabwe.

“We don’t mind at all because here, at this crossing of Tshirundu, it is mostly groceries and other basics such as bathing soap, washing soap, cooking oil, rice and clothes that are crossing over.”
Kwinda, the local headman of the small South African settlement, which lies less than a kilometre from the Limpopo River that separates the two countries, said now that the river was seasonally dry, illegal crossings and smuggling had increased, something that will surge as we move into the festive season.

While there are several other illegal crossing points along the Zimbabwe-SA border, starting from Maroi to the Gumbu area, and “Gate One and Two”, the crossing near Ha Tshirundu is one of the hotspots on the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF’s) radar.
After a visit to the Musina border with the SANDF, Daily Maverick previously reported on the challenges the SANDF faced when patrolling the porous boundary. One such challenge is villages like Ha Tshirundu, which was established informally and serves as a haven for smugglers and undocumented migrants seeking to cross into South Africa.

Kwinda detailed how the village served as a stop for migrants, who often sleep at Ha Tshirundu when they make their journey into South Africa, and criminal smugglers known as goma gomas, who rest at the settlement while the goods they are smuggling, mostly groceries and essential items, are offloaded and transported into Zimbabwe.
The goods are mainly transported by vehicle from nearby Musina to the riverside crossing and from there they are moved across the river either by foot or using donkey carts.

As this unfolds, Zimbabwean vendors sell fruit and other refreshments along the river banks. One of these women is Mary Moyo.
Mary Moyo is a vendor who sells refreshments on the banks of the Limpopo River. (Photo: Rudzani Tshivhase)
“We target smugglers and foreigners who use the spot to cross. We sell refreshments to them. It is very hot as you can feel. The heat is high at 42℃ today and they need refreshments to keep going. Even soldiers do support us, buying this and that,” Moyo said.

Zim hyperinflation spurs smuggling                                                                                                                                                        While the smuggling of groceries into Zimbabwe breaks several laws, for many Zimbabwean citizens it is a means for survival in a nation contending with an economic downturn and hyperinflation which has made buying essential goods extremely expensive.
This is evidenced by the number of crossings at the Beitbridge Port of Entry, a hub of movement as Zimbabwean nationals cross in and out of the country carrying goods purchased in South Africa. A Zimbabwean woman named Milicent spoke to Daily Maverick as we visited the border post. Perched securely on her head was a bag containing maize meal and other groceries she had just bought from Musina.

“I come to South Africa once a month to buy food and other things this side. It is so much cheaper. Back home it’s either we don’t have stock or it is very expensive. It would be easier to buy in Zimbabwe, but we have no choice. It takes me eight hours to get from my home to get here and after we have bought our things we have to sleep here at the border because there is no accommodation,” she said.

While Milicent crossed into South Africa legally to buy her goods, for many people it is too expensive to do so. Responding to questions from Daily Maverick, the SANDF said smuggling illegal products and consumables, such as alcohol, cigarettes and other items was a way to avoid custom duties.

A smuggler near Ha Tshirundu who chose to remain anonymous said they smuggled goods because of hunger and a lack of jobs both in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
“We are not killing and robbing anyone. From Musina to the river, people are charged according to the size of the goods he or she is transporting. Of course, in the process, there are some criminals called Magoma-goma who rob people [in] the bush,” he said.
The goma gomas represent a more nefarious side of the smuggling network between Zimbabwe and South Africa. They are hardened criminals who often smuggle cigarettes, vehicles and even people between the two countries.

The Beitbridge border with Zimbabwe, outside Musina. (Photo: Rudzani Tshivhase)
SANDF battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Mzoxolo Ketsekile, the leader of Operation Corona, highlighted the threat that goma gomas posed.

“[Goma gomas] take undocumented people across the borderline, once they have crossed they will rob or even rape women knowing that these are undocumented persons will not report the crime to the South African Police Service (SAPS) as they will be deported back to their country,” said Ketsekile.
He said goma gomas also smuggled copper, ivory, explosives and drugs. The explosives are allegedly used in ATM bombings and illegal mining activities.

SANDF ramps up patrols
Ha Tshirundu headman Kwinda said the mushrooming of illegal crossing points along the border was mainly due to the lack of a fence.
“We work very well with the police and soldiers deployed here. They are working very hard, but there is little they can do and the fence is either not there or riddled with holes,” said Kwinda.

While the SANDF faces various challenges with securing the vast northern border, it plans to ramp up patrols throughout the festive season.

There are several roadblocks on the small border road. Here, drivers are interrogated about their destinations and searched for smuggled items.
The SANDF is also using drone technology to collect data in the bush and along the river, documenting the movement of vehicles and people.

Since Operation Corona began on 1 September, 154 people have been arrested attempting to cross into South Africa illegally. Additionally, illicit goods such as cigarettes, marijuana, vehicles and drugs worth just over R33-million have been seized.
A farmer who asked to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation complimented the soldiers working on the border.
“The soldiers are working hard trying to stop the illegal movement of undocumented foreigners. The challenge is the lack of a proper fence. In 2020 the government erected a 40km low-quality fence which cost taxpayers almost R40-million. The fence has been damaged and even stolen in some instances,” said the farmer.

Out of nearly 1,000 applications submitted, only 100 spaza shop owners have been approved to continue operating their businesses in the Buffalo City Metro (BCM).

City spokesperson, Samkelo Ngwenya, explained that many applicants are foreign nationals with asylum-seeking status, which complicates the process as businesses in South Africa must have valid visas or permits.
The rush to register informal businesses comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for action following several child deaths linked to unsafe snacks sold by informal traders. Spaza shop owners were given a 21-day deadline to register their businesses, which ends on Tuesday, 17 December.

Ngwenya reported that around 1,000 applications have been received since the President's appeal on November 16. He estimates that about 2,000 informal shops operate in the region, with over 500 shut down for non-compliance with regulations since last year.
A key issue raised by the city is the citizenship status of many applicants. "Most applicants are foreign nationals using asylum-seeking identification, which makes it difficult for the city to accept their applications, as business permits are typically issued to individuals with valid visas," Ngwenya said. He added that the Metro is raising this concern on intergovernmental platforms to find a solution.

Another challenge is the increasing number of spaza shops run from containers in residential yards. During a multi-department committee meeting on Friday, it was revealed that current metro documentation does not allow containers to be used for business purposes. “There is a need for a policy and council resolution to address this issue in the by-laws,” Ngwenya said.

In response to concerns that foreign nationals have dominated spaza shop businesses, the metro is working to ensure that at least 50 spaza shops in the region are owned by local youth by next year. Ngwenya mentioned that 22 young people have already been trained and are preparing to apply for funding in January.
BCM has been conducting joint operations since 2022 to enforce compliance with regulations, particularly as the number of spaza shops has rapidly increased. Many of these businesses have been operating without the necessary permits, prompting the Metro to provide clear guidelines on how to comply.

To meet compliance, spaza shops must have:
•    Valid identification documents (ID or passport) for the person(s) in charge of the premises.
•    Valid company registration (CIPC) documents.
•    Valid tax compliance, fire competence certificates, and business licenses.

As of this week, the BCM has processed the following applications:
•    City Planning: One application for a five-year temporal departure/zoning.
•    Municipal Health Services: 646 applications for Certificates of Acceptability, with 103 issued.
•    Local Economic Development: 61 applications for business licenses, with 59 issued.

Ngwenya urged spaza shop owners to meet the registration requirements, warning that those who fail to comply risk having their businesses shut down.

China is encouraging its electrical vehicle manufacturers to invest in South Africa as it seeks to broaden ties between the two nations.We encourage the Chinese companies to consider, very seriously consider, to move some of their assembly lines or value added in South Africa, the Asian nations ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng said in a Bloomberg interview in Johannesburg on Wednesday.Peng tempered his comment by noting that market conditions would play an important role in such decisions. China is South Africas biggest trading partner and the worlds leader in EVs, an industry the African nation is seeking to grow into.China is encouraging its electrical vehicle manufacturers to invest in South Africa as it seeks to broaden ties between the two nations.We encourage the Chinese companies to consider, very seriously consider, to move some of their assembly lines or value added in South Africa, the Asian nations ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng said in a Bloomberg interview in Johannesburg on Wednesday.Peng tempered his comment by noting that market conditions would play an important role in such decisions. China is South Africas biggest trading partner and the worlds leader in EVs, an industry the African nation is seeking to grow into.South Africas automotive industry, which accounted for more than R271 billion in exports last year, currently depends on shipments to the European Union, where legislation is expected to gradually reduce demand for vehicles that run on diesel and gasoline.While the South African government announced in February that automakers will be allowed to claim a 150% tax deduction on investment in facilities to manufacture EVs, details of the plan have yet to be released.Chinese companies operating in South Africa are also expected to expand cooperation in critical areas such as infrastructure, new energy and mineral processing, Peng said in an address ahead of the interview attended by dignitaries.Chinese companies invested in South Africa include Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Hisense South Africa, Zijin Mining Group Co. and ZTE Corp. Im convinced that in the future, more and more Chinese enterprises will come to South Africa, invest in South Africa, and build for South Africa, Peng said.Together, China and South Africa can further unlock market potential.

The newest addition to South Africas security architecture â the Border Management Authority (BMA)  is, by the admission of the responsible Cabinet minister, under-funded, and it looks to use an approved R150 million for what is termed critical special capital equipment.The equipment comprises unspecified vehicles and vessels worth R76 million; firearms and ammunition to the value of R21 million, and R51 million worth of technical safety and security equipment.This was revealed to Action SA National Assembly (NA) Whip Lerato Ngobeni by Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber in a parliamentary reply. The acquisitions will be financed by funding accessed from CARA (Criminal Assets Recovery Account). The BMA requested R500 million in CARA funding but was only granted R150 million.The specified resources are not sufficient to effectively manage and secure the borders of the Republic, Schreiber said in his reply to Ngobeni.Speaking at last months Border Management Conference and Expo, Schreiber told delegates the BMA was short of R4.3 billion and another eight thousand personnel to properly to its job. He laid the shortfall partially at the door of state capture, which peaked during the Jacob Zuma presidency, and corruption.On our journey to combat illegal immigration, restore the rule of law and facilitate the economic growth and job creation that flows from secure and streamlined border management, we require a number of critical ingredients, he said, adding the BMA under the leadership of Mike Masiapato was making meaningful strides.On personnel he told the conference the BMA currently had 2 700 of the officials it needed to properly do its work.In his reply to Ngobeni, Schreiber said there is a total of 672 border law enforcement officers deployed along the border of South Africa at vulnerable areas. 616 are deployed at vulnerable areas of the land borders and 56 at maritime border areas. These BMA personnel are backed up by 4 354 South African Police Service personnel and 2 337 South African National Defence Force personnel.In addition to the strategic reallocation of resources, the BMA has strengthened collaboration with other border law enforcement entities through joint operations. This increased cooperation aims to enhance visibility and presence in vulnerable areas, thereby bolstering overall border security efforts. Despite these initiatives, ongoing resource constraints remain a challenge that must be address to ensure the BMA can fully deliver on its responsibilities, Schreiber told Ngobeni in another reply.The equipment the BMA border guards have available to use includes 22 quad bikes, 127 9 mm pistols, four rifles, 26 motorcycles, 44 patrol vehicles, and 22 prison vans. Another 400 pistols are to be distributed.Armscor has issued a number of tenders on behalf of the BMA for equipment including bullet resistant vests, gloves, and boarding/reaction boats.

Between July and September 2024, the Department of Home Affairs finalised 31 disciplinary cases against its officials. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has dismissed a social media post claiming that it is conducting a nationwide audit of the Department of Home Affairs, covering all asylum, refugee, work, business, study, permanent resident permits and marriage certificates for all foreigners from 2004 to 2024. This claim is incorrect, said the SIU on Sunday. Although the SIU is investigating allegations of maladministration at the department, it is focusing on the issuance of Permanent residence permits, Corporate visas, Business visas, Critical/exceptional skills work visas, Study visas, Retired persons visas, Work visas and Citizenship by naturalisation. These investigations pertain to potential contraventions of the Immigration Act, 2002, and the South African Citizenship Act, 1995.The SIU urges the public not to share unverified information. Please verify accuracy through our official website and social media accounts. Sharing false information can cause confusion and harm. For accurate updates, rely on official SIU communication channels. SIU and Home Affairs On 19 February, President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a proclamation authorizing the SIU to investigate allegations of serious maladministration in the affairs of Home Affairs and improper or unlawful conduct by officials or employees of the State entities, and to recover any financial losses suffered by the State. The SIU will also investigate improper or unlawful conduct by officials or employees of Home Affairs in relation to the installation of T200 firewalls. The Proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that took place between 12 October 2004 and 16 February 2024, the date of the publication of the Proclamation or before 12 October 2004 and after the date of the Proclamation that are relevant to, connected with, incidental to the matters or involves the same persons, entities or contracts investigated. Officials bust Between July and September 2024, the Department of Home Affairs finalised 31 disciplinary cases against its officials. According to spokesperson Siya Qoza, the disciplinary cases resulted in a range of sanctions. These include criminal prosecution, dismissal, suspension without pay and final written warnings. The officials faced transgressions relating to irregular recruitment, violation of the Citizenship Act and the violation of the Immigration Act. Eight of these cases came from the Free State, while six came from KwaZulu-Natal. One of the includes that of an official who failed to abide by the required standards of ethical conduct. His trial is set to start on 6 November, facing fraud charges. The official was dismissed from the department last year after the conclusion of disciplinary processes. He was implicated by the Counter-Corruption Branch in multiple fraudulent transactions that benefitted mostly Pakistani nationals. He allegedly committed fraud by manipulating the systems Home Affairs uses to administer immigration.