“Our government is allowing the exploitation of these people by not patrolling our borders. I’ve heard from many foreigners that the police extort bribes from them and beat them, but they know they won’t be deported.”
Those were the words of a shattered Ward 89 councillor Amelia Bester, reflecting on the court case involving a foreign national who was denied bail due to being in the country illegally.
This foreigner was one of five men who were arrested last year for affixing heavy steel structures to the Golf Club Terrace bridge in Constantia Kloof. They faced a charge of damage to municipal-owned property.
Read the initial article here:
https://roodepoortnorthsider.co.za/308130/workmen-arrested-for-putting-up-illegal-structures/
The four local workmen were granted bail while the immigrant faced further detention.
During their first appearance in the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court on 16 January, the Zimbabwean national appeared to be in despair, a sight which brought regret on the councillor.
“The plight of the illegal immigrant is not one I’d wish on my worst enemy,” she said.
“The Zimbabwean citizen has been in detention over the Christmas period. In a state of utter despair, he looked about the court room in search of a familiar face, after coming up from the cells. It broke my heart,” she reflected.
Also Read:
https://roodepoortnorthsider.co.za/313202/workmen-arrested-for-putting-up-illegal-structures-appear-in-court/
“I’ve been battling with feelings of guilt for my leading part in this arrest. I can’t begin to imagine what this young man has been through in those cells.
“Thousands of foreigners cross our borders without permits in search of work opportunities to enable them to feed their starving families. I’m not sure that they fully comprehend our legal framework,” Amelia lamented.
However, she made it clear that her heartfelt statement was not an attempt to justify the actions of illegal immigrants. “I just believe that there’s blame on other fronts as well,” she said.
“The part I played, I justify by the fact that I subscribe to the Rule of Law; and that the safety of the residents who use Hendrik Potgieter Road and Golf Club Terrace was front of mind,” she explained.
“I am angered by the actions of the business owner who employed these men to conduct an illegal activity at night time. He was able to make bail, and spent Christmas with his family whilst the Zimbabwean man and his family went through hell.
“The business owner should be held liable for the cost of deportation and our government should answer for the pain and suffering of the young Zimbabwean,” she concluded.
