A recent report released by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) reveals that Zimbabweans are committing most of the crimes down south than any other nationalities.
Mozambique and Nigeria are second and third respectively.
According to the report posted by Johannesburg Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba, 2865 Zimbabweans were arrested over a period spanning from 2016-2019 for various crimes while Mozambique (1382 arrests) and Nigeria (765 arrests).
The most common crimes include driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol (853 arrests) counterfeit goods (367 arrests) and assault (285 arrests).
Mashaba said the statistics show the extent at which “uncontrolled illegal immigration poses to the city of Johannesburg.”
It is estimated that more than three million Zimbabweans are living in South either legally or illegally with most of them resorting to crime after failing to acquire formal employment.
Most Zimbabweans cross the Limpopo with the hope of getting greener pastures as the economic situation in troubled Zimbabwe continues to bite.
A recent social media hoax which called for the renewal and acquisition of passports exposed the desperation Zimbabweans have of leaving the country, especially the great track to South Africa which offers better opportunities than any other country in the region.
Johannesburg is touted as one of the most violent cities in the world with a high crime rate which has largely been blamed on natives but the latest figures demystify that.
Mashaba said the war against crime will not be won for as long as there are undocumented foreigners.
“South Africans also do commit crimes. No one dispute this fact, but you can’t deny the fact that we have an immigration problem that exacerbates our crime challenges. How do you expect South Africa to win the war against crime with so many undocumented people?” questioned Mashaba.
