Immigration police accused of ignoring ZEP extension directive
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A video surfaced showing a municipal police officer in Emalahleni shouting at a Zimbabwean national who presented a valid Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP). Despite the official being informed of the Department of Home Affairs directive extending the ZEP's validity, the officer dismissed the document's legitimacy. Bongani Mkwananzi of ZimCommunitySA, alongside experts Mike Bolhuis and Professor Witness Maluleke, condemned the incident, highlighting a critical lack of knowledge among law enforcement regarding immigration directives. Experts argued that this ignorance contributes to the harassment of legal migrants and requested better communication between the Department of Home Affairs and law enforcement.
Consequences
The incident prompted calls for internal investigations into the conduct of the involved officials and demands for the mandatory retraining of law enforcement officers regarding immigration documentation. Continued failure to address these knowledge gaps among personnel risks further human rights infringements and the potential for increased solicitation of bribes by those tasked with enforcing immigration laws.
Sources
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