Limpopo on high alert amid Zimbabwe crisis

Amid reports of alleged acts against humanity being reported on the other side of the great Limpopo after unrest in Zimbabwe the past week, concern was sparked about the possibility of the aftermath spilling over to the province.
It was learnt that the Limpopo Government remains on high alert as it is monitoring the situation.
Provincial Police Communications Head Motlafela Mojapelo referred a media enquiry to the Departments of Home Affairs and International Relations and Cooperation, saying Beit Bridge border post was operating normally.
Premier Stan Mathabatha’s Spokesperson, Kenny Mathivha communicated that the province was on high alert and concerned about the recent unrest in Zimbabwe. He stressed that if things can go wrong in the neighbouring country, Limpopo will have to carry the burden as Zimbabwean nationals would probably flock to the province to seek services such as medical treatment.
Mathivha indicated that the Provincial Government has dispatched a team made up of officials from various institutions, such as the Department of Home Affairs and the Police, to monitor the situation. He added that the team briefs Mathabatha daily for him to update President Cyril Ramaphosa on the situation.
Department of Home Affairs Provincial Manager Albert Matsaung stated that officials daily assess the movement at the border post and according to reports there is nothing unusual. He reiterated that the movement was normal, adding that Zimbabwean nationals come to Limpopo early in the morning to do shopping in Musina before returning home later on the same day.
In a statement released by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Spokesperson, Ndivhuwo Mabaya and posted on the departmental website on Sunday, he indicated that Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has noted that protests in Zimbabwe have calmed down and life in the streets was returning to normal. He further said Sisulu also received a briefing from the South African Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mphakama Mbethe on the economic situation in the country, adding that the Minister had indicated that the government was working with the Zimbabwean government in finding a short and long term solution to the economic situation. Sisulu reportedly said if the situation was not attended to the current economic challenges could derail the political and economic progress the country has made since the election of the new president. Mabaya could not be reached for an update at the time of going to print.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Team One South Africa spokesperson on immigration and Parliamentarian Jacques Julius was on his way to Beit Bridge border post yesterday morning (Wednesday) to monitor the situation. En route to the border Julius telephonically informed Polo­kwane Observer that he was on his way to go monitor the situation on the ground. He said the DA was concerned about Ramaphosa’s reported utterances on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland about the favouring of lifted international sanctions against South Africa’s northern neighbour in order to grow the Zimbabwean economy.
The DA was equally worried about support to a dictatorship that could possibly result in a heightened influx of people from Zimbabwe over the South African border in future, Julius concluded.

Story:
YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com
RC MYBURGH
>>rc.observer@gmail.com
ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za