By Anita Dangazele
- A KwaZulu-Natal woman told officials at the Musina repatriation site that she was Malawian, so she could travel with her boyfriend.
- Malawian and South African authorities picked up inconsistencies in her story during an interview, and confirmed she is a South African citizen.
A South African woman tried to pass herself off as Malawian at a repatriation site in Musina, Limpopo, so she could leave the country with her boyfriend.
Home Affairs Acting Chief Director Albert Matsaung said the KwaZulu-Natal woman arrived at the temporary repatriation site in Musina with her boyfriend and told officials she, too, was Malawian.
“We work with different authorities here who interviewed her,” Matsaung said.
“After the interview, Malawian authorities realised that the story does not add up.”
She was handed over to South African authorities, who confirmed she is a South African citizen. Matsaung said she appeared to be trying to use the voluntary repatriation process to leave the country with her boyfriend.
“People wishing to visit other countries must not abuse this process,” Matsaung said
“We are not trying to promote illegal immigration to other countries by our own citizens, so this process must not be abused.”
He said South Africans wanting to visit partners in other African countries, including Malawi, need to do so legally, through normal travel documents, not by posing as foreign nationals inside a repatriation process meant for people leaving the country.
Matsaung said the woman was blocked from being repatriated.
He said the Immigration Act does not allow what she attempted, and that immigration officers are working with the Department of Social Development to look at how to prevent similar cases.
It is not yet clear whether she will face any charges.
Pictured above: Migrants get on a bus. This image is used for illustration purposes only.
Image source: Gift of the Givers
