By Rex Mphisa
SOME travellers between Zimbabwe and South Africa have complained that some policemen at the border are seizing their hard earned cash accusing them of not declaring their money.
South African laws say you can enter that country with any amount of cash in any currency.
But you should declare the money only if it is worth R25 000 or more and these declarations are made to the Customs and Excise department at the border.
“I was carrying just R3 000 and they took R500 accusing me of not declaring money I had. Another woman I was travelling with lost R2 000 to these rougue policemen,” said one woman who asked for anonymity.
Another man said they took R100 from his R600.
Hundreds of day shoppers cross the border from Zimbabwe to South Africa daily and most carry hard cash convenient in their transaction.
But the police taking advantage of ignorance prey on the unsuspecting shoppers.
A banker at Beitbridge said people should resort to plastic transactions and should take advantage of prepaid bank accounts.
Banks world over are now offering the prepaid VISA mastercards which are user friendly and safe from robberies, a common feature in SA.