Cross-border Buses Hike Fares, Cash In On Xenophobia-Induced Exodus

Operators of some cross-border buses have reportedly doubled their fares and luggage charges as they cash in on demand caused by a sudden rise in travellers as Zimbabweans flee xenophobia in South Africa.

Thousands have either returned home or are rushing home, mostly by road, ahead of a deadline set by protest leaders for today, 30 June.

So far, 35,403 Zimbabweans have returned home independently from South Africa, while 4,735 have returned through state assistance via the same border. Interviews with passengers and operators show a sharp rise in travel costs.

A bus seat from Cape Town or KwaZulu-Natal to Harare, which normally costs R1,800, now costs R3,000.

A woman travelling with her two children from Cape Town told the Chronicle that most buses on the KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town routes are reportedly fully booked until 5 July.

“The demand for transport home is high. People are scared. So, the bus operators have doubled fares, and this has seen many opting to use State assistance to leave South Africa,” she added.

“When the locals gave me one hour to leave, I had yet to receive my salary for June and, worse, I couldn’t afford the bus fares.

“From Cape Town to Harare, people are now paying R3,000 up from R1,800, and if you have luggage, it’s worse.”

The woman said some operators were charging up to R4,000 for extra bags, trunks and household goods, especially beds, fridges or stoves.

She said some travellers have little choice but to pay or leave most of their property behind.

A man, who only gave his name as Ernest, said he decided to return home with just a few items using state-assisted transport to avoid the high costs.

“I had to leave before month-end, and to make matters worse, landlords are no longer taking rentals from migrants for fear of being victimised,” he said.

“That’s the same case with employers, some migrants are told not to come to work, because the Government of South Africa has deployed labour inspectors who, if they find irregularities, slap the employers with huge fines.”

In response, the government has said it has deployed dozens of buses to major South African cities to repatriate thousands of its citizens, as anti-migrant protests continue across the country.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba said the repatriation exercise is being “wholly funded by the Government of Zimbabwe” and covers returnees from Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg, Durban and other areas.