Zimbabweans Stranded In Johannesburg

I have just arrived in Johanesburg, South Africa and I have witnessed a situation where bus operators are taking advantage of the festive season to hike fares willy-nilly.

The bus operators are now charging between R400 and R600 for a one way trip from Johannesburg to Harare. A visit to the Park Station revealed that several Zimbabweans were stranded at the terminus as they had no money to travel back home. The money they had budgetted for is no longer enough. It used to cost about R250 for a one way trip to Harare per capita.

One Zimbabwean who identified herself as Tinei Mangwiro of Mabvuku high density suburb told me in Joburg this morning that Christmas is going to be hell for him and his family.

"I had budgetted R300 for transport back home but now I don't where I will get the other money to top up my bus fare. I have had to come to buy groceries for people back home but it appears I wont be able to buy much items given that I had bought the rands on the black market".