No Gold in eGoli

There is no gold in Johannesburg. The grass is never greener in Egoli on the eastern-side of Limpopo River. There are more tears and blood to shed than laughter and bread. The glittering yellow soils that dot around Gauteng cities are shells of gold which were sucked by multi-national companies.

"Most Zimbabweans streaming into Johannesburg eager to strike gold instead come face to face with xenophobia, human rights abuses, crime, tribalism, racism, exploitation, prostitution and alcoholism. The gold glitter is eluding them.

"The majority of three million Zimbabweans residing in South Africa are in a catch 22 situation.

"They do not have the luxury of a reverse jive back home. Biting poverty, acute economic meltdown, rapid extinction of democratic space and the rising political temperatures in Harare are compelling the economically and politically exiled Zimbabweans to stay put in South Africa at whatever cost.

"Yes! At whatever cost."

"Pressure from family members to spoil them with Rands and grocery bags is forcibly keeping Zimbabweans in Jozi as they scavenge for cremation in the dangerous terrain of eGoli. The high volume of body bags being shipped to Zimbabwe on a daily basis for burial is undisputed proof of the magnitude of the ubiquitous danger in Mzansi.