Seven Ethiopians deported, with five more expected to join them
Considering the current xenophobic hate gripping South Africa, one can only imagine how tough life is for foreign nationals desperate enough to try and sneak into SA for a shot at a new start.
This is precisely what seven Ethiopians (six men and a 15-year-old child) attempted to do, lured from their homeland in East Africa by the prospect of a better life and employment opportunities in Mzansi.
Unfortunately for: Tagai Ababe, 19, Belayeneh Kinore 26, Mulali Disfai, 31, Ashenef Wombago, 33, Tegeon Sedebo, 36 and Bazabih Humbolo, 40 and his son, the dream ended at a police roadblock by Tatisiding on 5 April.
A short stay in a Botswana jail convinced the six adults that perhaps home wasn’t so bad after all! Appearing before Francistown Magistrates Court this week, the men all pleaded guilty to border jumping and begged to be sent back to Ethiopia.
“The hardships at home forced me to flee to South Africa as I was promised a good life,” explained Humbulo, the oldest of the suspects, adding he has relatives in SA who promised to take him in.
“It’s my first time to be in trouble with the law, I’m asking for mercy,” continued Humbulo, whose son cannot be named because of his age and was kept at a safehouse.
It was a cry repeated verbatim by his co-accused, noting they left Ethiopia in search of greener pastures.
“We were promised good lives in South Africa but now we just want to go home,” pleaded Wombago, adding he was feeling unwell.
In sentencing, court saw fit to hand each of the six men a ‘wholly suspended’ P1, 000 fine; providing they do not break the law again in the next three years they will not pay a thebe.
It was also ruled they be deported back home as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the four accused of aiding and abetting the Ethiopians, Batswana 36-year-old pair Kenneth Kegakilwe and Koketso Radiporo, 43-year-old woman, Keneilwe Moatswi and Ugandan national Abdullah Bakiide, 40, all protested their innocence and pleaded not guilty.
With the three locals out on bail and Bakiide remanded in custody, they are due back in court on 21 May – by which time the seven Ethiopians should be safely back home!
They are likely to be rejoined by five more of their countrymen, who were intercepted making the same journey to SA at a checkpoint near Obed Itani Chilume stadium on the outskirts of Francistown on 28 March.
The five men remain locked up and are still to be arraigned, with their first two scheduled court appearances cancelled due to the lack of an Amharic interpreter – the translator was held up with the other case!
