Over 1,100 Malawian nationals repatriated from South Africa without documentation
via The Citizen2 min read
The Border Management Authority BMA processed over 1,500 Malawian and Zimbabwean nationals for repatriation at the Beitbridge Port of Entry. This operation, lasting 13 hours, involved 1,129 Malawian nationals who were found to be without documentation authorizing their stay in South Africa. They were issued Emergency Travel Certificates facilitated by the Malawian High Commission for their return. Additionally, 467 Zimbabwean nationals were processed for deportation after being transferred from the Lindela Holding Facility. BMA Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Communications and Marketing Mmemme Mogotsi stated that the operation required the full mobilization of BMA personnel, supported by officials from the Department of Home Affairs and Saps Public Order Policing, to ensure compliance with immigration laws. BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato highlighted the precision, vigilance, and teamwork involved in processing such large numbers, emphasizing the balance between border security and the dignified treatment of those being repatriated. The BMA will continue to collaborate with partners to ensure orderly, lawful, and humane repatriation processes.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Citizen.
Online romance and sextortion scams continue to ensnare individuals, particularly men, despite numerous warnings. Scammers employ a manipulation strategy that involves building trust before exploitation. Psychologist Elize Thesner notes that perpetrators identify vulnerabilities in lonely, grieving, isolated individuals, or those seeking care. Scammers patiently build rapport, trust, and emotional connection, showing interest in their target's challenges. This leads to a carefully constructed relationship where victims emotionally invest in a non-existent future, viewing the scammer as a confidant and source of comfort. Psychologist and medical doctor Jonathan Redelinghuys explains that many victims seek intimacy in its broadest sense, not just sex. Sexual content often enters the relationship later, appearing as a natural progression. Emotional attachment can cloud judgment, making it difficult for victims to discern exploitation. Thesner adds that sexual attraction activates the brain's reward systems, reinforcing the relationship and making it harder for victims to recognize warning signs. Scammers also introduce stories of hardship to create a caregiving dynamic, making victims feel like helpers or rescuers. When the deception is exposed, shame becomes a powerful tool, as fear of public humiliation can outweigh financial losses. Thesner concludes that these scams exploit universal human needs like hope, affection, validation, and belonging, effectively weaponizing them.
Must ReadSextortion scams are on the rise again, moving beyond online solicitations to include real-world threats, according to private investigator Brad Nathanson. Victims, often men, are entrapped through adult websites or classified ads where they believe they are interacting with genuine sex workers. The scams can involve online chitchat or physical contact, with demands quickly escalating into threats against spouses, employers, and family members. Some victims are identified after visiting establishments, with their personal information obtained through illicit means. Nathanson cited a businessman who paid R650,000 before seeking help. Teenagers are also targeted, primarily through social media entrapment, as seen in a case where a boy was extorted with intimate pictures. Nathanson attributes the scams' continued success to victims' ego and their reluctance to involve law enforcement due to fear of exposure or further consequences. He advises victims to cut off communication immediately and never engage with unsolicited messages, as continued payments rarely resolve the situation and only encourage the extortionists.
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