Five Zimbabwean Deportees Die In Crash Of South African Police Truck

Patience Rusere
February 18, 2008

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Authorities in Musina, South Africa, were investigating the deaths of five Zimbabweans Saturday in the crash of a police truck that was carrying them to be deported, local sources in the town close to the border between the two countries said.

Six women and two children remained under treatment in a local hospital while the rest of the survivors among the 52 people who were being transported in the vehicle at the time of the crash were treated and then deported to Zimbabwe.

Director Jacob Matakanye of the Musina Legal Advice Center told reporter Patience Rusere that while investigations continue, the South African police appeared to have followed proper procedures in deporting the victims - although the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, an activist group, said the truck was unsuitable for transporting deportees.