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http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5467912

The number of reported rapes and sexual assaults of Zimbabwean migrants to South Africa is increasing, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said yesterday.

"From March 1 to May the number of cases treated was 71," MSF nurse Mashudu Nelufule said from Musina in Limpopo.

Of these victims, 45 were female and 26 were male. Fifteen were children.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said Nelufule.

Many victims who were attacked had not sought treatment to prevent the contraction of HIV.

They opted to continue on to their destinations, whether to local farms or distant cities.

Nelufule also recounted several gruesome stories of women who were victimised by thugs as they crossed the border.

"The gangs take their money, belongings, sometimes even their clothes. One woman, they stripped her down, and searched inside her vagina."

All of this had taken place in front of children.

One of the thugs ordered a four-year-old to use his small hands to search inside the woman's vagina for valuables and money.

"Then they raped her one by one," said Nelufule.

MSF is treating more than 2 000 patients a month from its Musina location, next to the Home Affairs office.

MSF head of mission Mickael le Paih said: "We have been told by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) that there are 300 people a day arriving at the DHA to apply for asylum in Musina."

Le Paih said the migrants could not afford a passport and were crossing the border illegally.

"The DHA promised... to create a special dispensation permit to ease the process for migrants crossing the border, but this has never been implemented," he said. - Sapa

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