Cape Town - Zimbabweans in South Africa send nearly R5bn
home a year through largely informal channels, it was reported on Thursday.
The Cape Times reported about 82% of this money was sent
through informal channels such as friends and bus and truck drivers, according
to a survey.
Most people who sent money this way felt it was more
convenient and less expensive, even though there was a chance of being ripped
off.
The survey, conducted by People Against Suffering,
Oppression and Poverty (Passop), found that about two-thirds of relatives in
Zimbabwe relied on this money to survive.
A total of 350 Zimbabweans were interviewed in De Doorns and
Masiphumelele, in the Western Cape.
Passop programme coordinator David von Burgsdorff said it
planned to make submissions to the government that would benefit immigrants and
the economy.
"South Africa has access to only 10% of the money. They
can't tax it and they have absolutely no control over it," he said.
"By improving the accessibility of formal channels and
lifting some of the restrictions, the South African government stands to gain a
lot."