MBABANE – The South African presidency has spoken.
This is the office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Following media reports and a statement from the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation which raised concerns about the presence of the five immigrants from the USA, President Ramaphosa’s office has also weighed in on the matter.
The South African media reported on Thursday night that the presidency said the Eswatini Government has assured this highest office that the five men sheltered at Matsapha Maximum Prison would not cross into SA.
The media houses quoted SA Presidency Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya saying that Eswatini has taken the responsibility to keep the five men received from USA within its borders, as their presence had sparked widespread concern among South Africans.
The men, from Laos, Jamaica, Cuba, Vietnam and Yemen were received by Eswatini last month.
Magwenya acknowledged that their arrival last month raised security concerns in South Africa but that Eswatini has also committed to repatriating them within 12 months through the International Organisation for Migration.
The assurance that the immigrants will not cross the borders comes after the SA Government noted with concern their arrival in Eswatini.
Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for the Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, was quoted saying that the minister had noted the earlier statement by Eswatini and the US, in which they indicated they would collaborate with the International Organisation for Migration to facilitate the transit of these inmates to their countries of origin.
“While respecting the sovereign decision of the Government of Eswatini, the Government of SA is deeply concerned about the profile of these individuals and the potential adverse impact on SA’s national security and immigration policy, given the geographical proximity between the two sisterly countries,” Phiri said.
Some security experts are said to have warned that most of the criminals could end up in SA due to the high levels of crime there and the levels of poverty in Eswatini. They said what further heightened fears is that SA’s borders with its neighbours, including Eswatini, are notoriously porous, attracting undocumented migrants and cross-border criminals.
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