A total of 183 Mozambican prisoners in South Africa returned on Monday to Mozambique as part of the decongestion of the country’s jails to prevent Covid-19, the spokesman for the provincial migration directorate in Maputo told Lusa on Tuesday.
“All were prisoners and were freed by the South African government,” said Juca Bata.
The returnees were tested for the new coronavirus, and their addresses and contacts were also collected by the health authorities for follow-up if the results are positive.
“They will comply with the mandatory quarantine at their destinations,” said Bata.
Among other crimes, the Mozambicans who were received at the Ressano Garcia border were detained in South Africa for illegal immigration, drug trafficking, forgery of documents, theft, and poaching.
The returnees, aged between 17 and 60, are going to the provinces of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Sofala, Manica and Maputo City.
Mozambique has had 1,219 positive cases of Covid-19, nine deaths and 369 people have recovered, according to the health authorities.
