Family members and funeral workers in a protective gear, carry the coffin of nurse Duduzile Margaret Mbonane who died from COVID-19, during her funeral, in Thokoza east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, July 23, 2020. One of the country s nurses was buried Thursday, the latest of more than 5,000 infected health workers across South Africa. Mbonane died just a month before her retirement, her husband said. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Undocumented African immigrants are smuggling their dead relatives out of South Africa using neighbouring Zimbabwe’s porous borders at a time the region is battling a resurgent Covid-19 pandemic, it has emerged.
According to the International Organisation for Immigration (IOM), a recent investigation revealed that there were 22 illegal points of entry along the 200-kilometre border between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
By Bulawayo Correspondent
CASES of teenage pregnancies and early child marriages have been on the increase in the border town of Beitbridge during the Covid-19 induced closure of schools, a recent Population Mobility Mapping (PMM) survey has revealed.
According to the study conducted by the International Organisation for Immigration (IOM) in the district last October, cases of teenage pregnancies and early child marriages have been rampant in settlements along illegal exit and entry points to neighboring South Africa.
Beitbridge has more than 22 unofficial entry points into South Africa.
However, nefarious activities along the illegal points such as goods smuggling and child smuggling have brought several societal challenges in the district.
Beitbridge records increase in teenage pregnancies
By NQOBANI NDLOVU
BEITBRIDGE recorded an increase in teenage pregnancies and early child marriages, particularly in areas closer to illegal exit and entry points to neighbouring South Africa where there is a thriving informal economy.
According to findings of a Population Mobility Mapping (PMM) study conducted in October, there was an increase in teenage pregnancies and child marriages during the COVID-19-induced school closure.
The study was jointly executed by International Organisation for Immigration (IOM) and government to gather information on population mobility and cross-border movements.
The findings of the study showed that both Beitbridge rural and urban districts were high mobility districts with Beitbridge Border Post as the main and official point of entry into Zimbabwe from South Africa but at the same time there are more than 22 unofficial points of entry, indicative of high irregular migration.