A Zimbabwean family is appealing for help in locating their relative man, Tatenda Masirivha, who has been missing for more than a month following his reported arrest by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs officers in Centurion late in September.
The family says all communication with Masirivha abruptly stopped on the night of his arrest, and despite repeated efforts to trace him through police stations, prisons, and immigration facilities, they have been unable to establish his whereabouts.
“The last time we spoke to him was around 7 p.m. on the day he was arrested. He said he was about to appear in court,” a family spokesperson said. “Since that moment, we haven’t heard from him. His phone has been off, and no official communication has come from any authorities about where he is being held.”
Masirivha, whose age and residential details were not immediately available, is believed to have been detained by immigration or security officials during what witnesses described as a routine operation targeting undocumented foreign nationals in the Centurion area.
Following his disappearance, family members embarked on an exhaustive search that has taken them across several provinces in South Africa. They began at Pretoria Central Police Station, where they were informed that Tatenda might have been transferred to another holding facility.
“At Pretoria Central, officials told us he was moved to a different jail, but they couldn’t specify where. We checked at Lindela Repatriation Centre, but his name did not appear on the admission list. Later, we went to Mpumalanga after hearing reports that some detainees had been transferred there — but again, there was no record of him,” the family explained.
After weeks of searching, the family admits they are now at their wits’ end, uncertain whether Masirivha remains in custody or if something more sinister may have occurred. They have since launched a public appeal, urging anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forward.
“We no longer know where he is. We are pleading with anyone — whether it’s officials, lawyers, or fellow Zimbabweans in detention — to help us locate him,” said the family. “We just want to know if he is alive and safe.”
Members of the public with any information have been asked to contact the family directly on +27 63 047 1390. A recent photograph of Masirivha has also been circulated online and shared with community groups across Gauteng and Limpopo.
Family Launches Desperate Search for Missing Zimbabwean Man Arrested in South Africa
Masirivha’s disappearance comes amid growing concerns about South Africa’s immigration detention system, which has long faced criticism for lack of transparency, poor communication, and reports of detainees being transferred without proper documentation.
Lindela Repatriation Centre, managed under the Department of Home Affairs, is the country’s primary holding facility for foreign nationals awaiting deportation. However, human rights organisations — including Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) and Amnesty International — have repeatedly accused authorities of irregular deportations and holding detainees beyond the legally permitted 120-day limit.
In several past cases, foreign nationals were allegedly moved between detention centres without notice, while their families were left uninformed. Some have been released without record; others have reportedly been deported without the opportunity to retrieve personal belongings or contact loved ones.
“These disappearances often happen when detainees are transferred without documentation or are deported in group operations that are not publicly recorded,” said an immigration lawyer familiar with such cases. “Families can go for weeks or months without knowing what happened, especially if the person does not have proper identification on them at the time of arrest.”
Zimbabwean community groups in South Africa have since rallied around Masirivha’s family, calling for greater accountability from the Department of Home Affairs. They argue that transparency in detention and deportation processes is essential to prevent human rights abuses.
“We’ve had too many of these cases — people vanish after arrest, and families are left in agony,” said one community organiser based in Johannesburg. “The authorities must keep clear records and allow families to check on their loved ones. It’s unacceptable that a person can be arrested and disappear without a trace.”
The Zimbabwean Embassy in Pretoria has also been notified of the case, though officials have yet to publicly comment on whether they are assisting in the search. Embassy sources, speaking off the record, acknowledged that similar cases have been reported in recent months involving Zimbabweans detained for immigration-related offences.
Despite the emotional toll, the Masirivha family remains hopeful that Tatenda will be found. They continue to visit police stations and immigration offices every week, hoping for any word or sign of his safety.
“We will not stop searching,” the family said. “We know someone out there knows where he is. We just want him home.”
Anyone with information about Tatenda Masirivha’s whereabouts is urged to contact +27 63 047 1390 immediately.
Source- ZimEye
