A shocking video circulating on social media has reportedly captured the tragic moment a Zimbabwean man was electrocuted while trying to cross an electric fence near a South African game park border. In the clip, which has quickly gone viral on Facebook and other platforms, the man is said to have been leading a small group attempting to enter South Africa illegally when he allegedly came into contact with the live fence, collapsing instantly as others watched in horror.
According to online reports shared by witnesses, the group was believed to be crossing through a wildlife area to avoid regular border controls. The incident has reignited debate over the dangers faced by undocumented migrants, who often risk their lives navigating rivers, dangerous terrain, wild animals and electrified security fences in search of work and better opportunities across the border.
Human-rights voices and social media users are now calling for safer, legal pathways for migration between Zimbabwe and South Africa, arguing that no one should have to die in such a painful and lonely way simply for trying to survive. Others, however, insist that tampering with or crossing restricted fences—especially in game reserves and protected areas—remains both illegal and extremely dangerous, and have urged people to respect immigration laws and security infrastructure.
Authorities in both countries have not yet issued an official statement on the incident, and key details such as the exact location, date and identity of the man remain unverified. As the video continues to spread, Zimbabweans at home and in the diaspora are left divided between anger, sadness and frustration, asking how many more lives must be lost at the fence before meaningful solutions to the migration crisis are found.
