Stranded Zimbabweans - who is responsible for them?

LEPHALALE – The 83 Zimbabweans who are living at the Disaster Management Centre after an alleged labour dispute with a farmer are still awaiting answers to what is to become of them.
The migrant workers reported to Villa Nora police station in early December after they claimed that their employer, a farmer in the Marken area, disconnected the electricity and water supply to the housing where they were staying. They have been locked in a labour dispute with the farmer since September, claiming that the farmer refused to pay them minimum wage.
On 11 December, the group, consisting of men, women and small children, were taken to the Lephalale municipality. They were placed at the Disaster Management Centre in Onverwacht and various businesses and private individuals provided them with food.
On 27 December the group was seen camping in a park outside the police station in Herman street. At that time it was alleged that they moved because they heard a gunshot early one morning and, fearing for their lives, they moved closer to the police station. It is also alleged that residents in the area were unhappy with their presence causing the group to move away from the park. They later returned to the Disaster Management Centre, where they are now staying.
While various Zimbabwean newspapers have reported on the situation, the Lephalale municipality has remained tight lipped about the future of these workers.
Northern News have received information that a task team has been established to address the issue. The team consists of the Lephalale municipality Disaster Team, South African Police Service, Home Affairs, District Disaster Team, Provincial Disaster Team, Department of Labour, National Prosecuting Authority, Department of Justice and the
Department of Health.
In the meantime the workers are housed in temporary refugee tents and have to make use of a make-shift bathroom and an open piece of bush near the camp for their ablutions.
According to one of the workers they are receiving food from the non-profit organization, Gift of the Givers. “We only receive scones and tea twice a day,” said the person.
When Northern News visited the camp we were informed that the workers do not want to speak to South African media because of an alleged hidden political agenda. “Our bosses have instructed us not to speak to anybody about our situation without getting permission from them first,” said one of the men. It is unclear who the bosses are that the man referred to.
At the time of going to print the Lephalale municipality did not respond to questions regarding who is responsible for their living expenses as they are, by their own admission, undocumented workers who are not legally allowed to work in the country. The municipality also refused to respond on whether the group will be deported to Zimbabwe.