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From Mashudu Netsianda in Beitbridge
THE last group of 385 Zimbabweans who were affected by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa arrived in the country yesterday through Beitbridge border post.The group, comprising 201 men, 100 women and 84 children arrived aboard six buses.

They were taken to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reception and support centre.

Four buses arrived from Durban while the other two came from Johannesburg. The immigrants were last night expected to leave for their homes.

The first group comprising 441 returnees arrived on Monday. Most of the survivors vowed they would not return to the neighbouring country despite assurance by the South African government that the situation was now under control.

One of the survivors Phios Chinoona from Chipinge, who arrived hobbling on crutches, gave a horrific account of how he narrowly escaped death at his home in Chartsworths, Durban.

“I had just arrived home from work when I heard gunshots. Before I could even react a group of young men suddenly descended on me. They kicked me before striking me with the butt of a pistol. They looted my entire household property and robbed me of R4,600 which was for my children’s school fees,” said Chinoona, a motor mechanic.

He said he could not flee from his attackers because his leg was fractured from an accident.

“They brutally attacked me despite my condition and I sustained injuries. I also left my car, a Toyota Hilux which I could not bring with me as the mob seemed determined to kill me,” he said.

Another victim, Jerias Chiromo of Chiredzi witnessed his neighbour in Chartsworths being killed by a group of youths. “They came to our neighbourhood and killed my neighbour and it was such a terrible sight. I fled to the police camp to seek refuge,” he said.

Chiromo said he lost all his clothes and cellphones during the attack.

Max Ndlovu who was based in Germiston in Johannesburg and originally from Mpoengs in Plumtree said a group, which was armed with knobkerries, axes, knives and machetes started attacking foreigners and looting their shops. “It was on Friday last week when the group arrived at our area and blew a whistle.

The next thing people were all over the streets fleeing from the mob. It was like a war situation as you could only hear gunshot after gunshot and every foreigner was scurrying for cover,” said Ndlovu.

He said from what he witnessed he had no plans of returning to South Africa.

“It’s better to stay at home where it is safe and peaceful rather than going back. South Africans don’t like us at all as evidenced by these brutal attacks on foreigners,” said Ndlovu.

Sibongile Chikava of Masvingo fled Marathon Squatter camp in Johannesburg together with her two year-old baby.

“They came to our area in Germiston and started looting shops belonging to Somalis. I was doing my washing when I spotted them from a distance and I quickly took my baby and fled to Ellisberg Hall.

Police later accompanied me to my house where I managed to collect a few belongings,” she said.

“My husband remained because his employers told him that if he leaves his workplace he risked losing this month’s salary. As soon as he gets his money at the end of the month, he will join us. South Africa is no longer safe and we are planning to embark on an income generating project here at home,” said Chikava.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Services Ngoni Masoka whose ministry is coordinating the process of handling the xenophobic victims at the IOM centre, said the government has completed the repatriation exercise. “This is the second group which I reckon is the last until further notice,” said Masoka.