By Alex Bell
14 May 2012

A Zimbabwean human rights group has threatened South Africa’s chief crime 
fighting unit with international legal action, over on ongoing probe into 
the illegal renditions of Zimbabwean citizens from South Africa.

Several senior officials in the Hawks criminal unit and the South African 
police were last year accused of conducting the renditions, in partnership 
with Zimbabwean police. This has reportedly led to a number of Zimbabwean 
‘suspects’ being arrested in South Africa and then sent across the border 
illegally, and killed.

These allegations were made by South Africa’s Sunday Times newspaper, which 
reported that South Africa’s Police Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, is sitting on 
explosive reports listing at least three deaths of Zimbabwean nationals. The 
deaths were allegedly as a result of a ‘renditions’ operation led by police 
and Hawks officers.

A Hawks source has recently been quoted by South African media as saying 
that the practice is still ongoing with at least eight of the unit’s members 
being accused.

“They are above the law. Completely untouchable. For their work several have 
been promoted to senior ranks. They have links right to the top, including 
politicians and senior officers,” the source was quoted as telling the Times 
newspaper.

“Several, who are from the Hawks Tactical Operational Management Services, 
are known to be linked to the murders of at least six Zimbabweans abducted 
from across Gauteng, and others have been linked to the murders of South 
Africans, including fellow police officers,” the source said.

Mthethwa has now said a preliminary investigation into the allegations is 
almost completed. But according to the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) this is 
the first time any form of a probe has been mentioned. ZEF Director Gabriel 
Shumba said he fears the allegations will be covered up.

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

13/05/2012 00:00:00
    by Staff Reporter

A UNION for migrant workers is taking the South African government to court 
to force ministers to reveal what they intend to do with 300,000 Zimbabweans 
granted work permits when they expire in 2015.

The Migrant Workers Association of South Africa (MWASA) says officials from 
the Department of Home Affairs have privately stated that the permits will 
not be renewed, but there has been no public statement by the government.
MWASA has engaged law firm MGM Law Assist to force the government into a 
clarification.

In September 2010, South Africa began a process of issuing Zimbabweans with 
relevant South African permits for business, study and work under a special 
dispensation known as the Zimbabwe Documentation Programme.

But Austin Moyo, the secretary general of MWASA says Zimbabweans who 
benefitted from the programme are anxious to know what will happen when the 
permits expire.

Home Affairs Director General Mkuseli Apleni said Friday that only those 
meeting legal requirements for work, study and business permits renewal will 
be granted extensions.

MGM Law Assist Director Godfrey Machimane says the Home Affairs’ position is 
the reason why the permit holders are launching a court action.

“If the permit holders are now required to meet legal requirements for 
renewing permits that were given under special circumstances, it simply 
means the majority will not qualify,” he said.