The common border between Mozambique and South Africa measures approximately 490 Kilometers (304 miles) long. Due to this, South Africa finds it challenging to protect its border and ensure no one enters their country illegally. A plan to build a border wall has evolved to help the country.
Profit-seeking Smugglers
Profit-seeking criminals from Mozambique smuggle migrants through the shared border with South Africa. The smugglers’ actions pose great concern not only to South Africa but also to the rest of the world. Some smugglers even smuggle large numbers of migrants between continents.
Due to the underground nature of their activities, countries like South Africa find it hard to identify when smugglers are facilitating irregular migration. The profit-seeking criminals smuggle migrants in containers, in ships, or even through deserts into other countries. Numerous migrants take such risks as they want a better life. When they discover they can’t access legal channels of migration, they seek the smuggler’s assistance.
Electric Border Wall
To control Mozambique migrants’ illegal smuggling into South Africa, the state opted to use a lethal 3500 volt electrified fence. This decision was made back in 1986 as large numbers of refugees were fleeing war in Mozambique. In the period between 1986 and 1989, around 89 people were electrocuted to death at the fence. Most of the victims of the lethal fence were women and children during the time. Local people called the fence the ‘Snake of Fire.’
The lethal fence relied on a continuous current for it to be effective. A fatal continuous current of 800 milliamps, therefore, flowed through the fence. Additionally, the live wire of the fence was surrounded by coils of razor tape. Razor tape is similar to barbed wire, but it has sharp hooked razors along the wire’s length. For Mozambican’s who survived electrocution, the razor tape inflicted further injuries. Additionally, illiterate civilians fleeing for their lives suffered severe burns and even lost limbs because of electrocution.
Alternative ways to Cross the Border fence
As time went by, Mozambican refugees developed several ways to cross the fence. Some simply threw logs over the electrified parts of the fence. On the other hand, others propped up sections of the fence with wooden sticks and crawled underneath to the other side. If the wooden sticks collapsed, however, it would result in death. Later on, paid guides would get Mozambican’s through for a fee. On average, 200 people would cross the fence every month.
However, the South African fence was not the only thing that posed a threat to Mozambican’s seeking better lives. The Mozambique section of the fence stretched over 63 kilometers from Swaziland to the Kruger National Park. The park is South Africa’s major game reserve famous for its lions. Upon crossing the border fence, Mozambicans would walk into South Africa through the Kruger National Park. Crossing the fence meant risking your life as with the lions on the other side.
Despite the numerous accidental deaths, South Africa noticed that its fence was becoming ineffective in fulfilling its desired function.
The Great border Wall of South Africa
This year the South African government has decided to build a wall to act as a border between itself and Mozambique. According to some publications building the wall has started, and it is already eight kilometers long. Additionally, estimates reveal the cost of building the wall will land at five million euros.
Mozambican authorities state they have not received any information from South Africa concerning constructing a wall on their shared border. The authorities declared they would discuss the matter with South Africa when official communication would be made.
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