MANKWENG, LIMPOPO — Scores of Zimbabwean and undocumented migrants have sought refuge at the Mankweng police station in Limpopo, camping outside the facility in fear for their safety ahead of planned anti-foreigner protest marches. The displaced individuals, including women and children as young as two months old, have been stationed at the site since June 26 after being evicted from their residences in areas including Pulkani, Noisu, and surrounding regions by landlords anticipating the June 30 demonstrations.
Clever Zvitete, the leader of the displaced group, stated that the migrants chose the police station because they trusted it would provide safety amid the looming threats of the June 30 marches. According to Zvitete, the group is currently waiting for buses to transport them to the Beitbridge border post for repatriation to Zimbabwe.
“Our embassy is cooperating, and they are sending buses from across Limpopo to accommodate everyone,” Zvitete explained. He confirmed that six buses have already successfully transported people back home—including three dispatched from the Mokopane business center—with three additional buses waiting at the station to load the remaining migrants. Zvitete noted that the group is happy to return home and expressed gratitude for the embassy’s assistance since they first arrived at the police station.
Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have mobilized to manage the security situation across the province. Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, the Limpopo police spokesperson, confirmed that police, private security, and the taxi industry are on high alert to police the planned anti-foreigner demonstrations and ensure the safety of all individuals, regardless of their legal status.
Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba reported that the province remains relatively calm, though there have been sporadic incidents requiring police intervention. In the Sekhukhune district, police arrested five suspects following overnight looting at spaza shops. The arrests include one suspect for inciting violence, three for business burglary, and one for possession of suspected stolen property.
Additionally, police responded to incidents in Phalaborwa and Lephalale, where individuals attempted to remove undocumented immigrants from an informal settlement. Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba noted that the situation was contained quickly because officers were already on the ground. In the Mokopane district, a farm owner was arrested alongside 15 undocumented immigrants after he was found harboring them in his yard for employment purposes. The group is facing charges and is scheduled to appear in the local Magistrate’s Court.
Despite the provincial tensions, the police spokesperson confirmed that Mankweng has not experienced any violent incidents. However, police have cordoned off the area around the police station to prevent the Zimbabwean migrants from coming into contact with local Mankweng residents. This precaution follows intelligence that a march is expected to proceed from Matiba through the local mall, heading directly toward the Mankweng police station and the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court.
As the multi-disciplinary law enforcement teams maintain a visible presence, the focus remains on protecting the vulnerable migrants sheltering at the station while monitoring the planned marches to prevent any outbreaks of violence.