Eleven Zimbabwean Migrants Die In Croc-Infested Waters Trying To Reach South Africa

Eleven Zimbabwean migrants have died while trying to cross crocodile-infested waters to reach South Africa.

Just days after the South Africa Police Service (SAPS) and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) decided to strengthen security on the border, 11 people died while trying to cross the Limpopo River from Zimbabwe into South Africa in separate incidents on Sunday.

According to reports, eight Zimbabweans died when their boat capsized in the crocodile-infested Limpopo River near the border post.

On the same day, three other Zimbabwean nationals reportedly drowned in separate attempts to cross the river into the neighbouring country.

The body of one victim has been found so far as the authorities continue to search for the other two, believed to be on the South African side of the river.

Tichaona Nyongo, police chief in the Zimbabwean border town of Beitbridge, said: “So far a body has been recovered, but has yet to be identified. Two more bodies are in the river, but on the SA side and to retrieve them, there’s need [for the] services of a helicopter because the water current is strong.”

ZRP divers have been looking for the two bodies since they disappeared on Sunday, and SAPS have sent a search helicopter to the region.

An estimated one million Zimbabweans live in South Africa, having left their home country due to economic and political crises. However, accurate figures are hard to ascertain, given the high number of undocumented migrants.