South African President Cyril Ramaphosa gestures moment before announcing the composition of the national executive at the Union Buildings on May 29, 2019 in Pretoria, South Africa. (PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP)

South Africa’s government said it had noted with concern reports of human rights violations in Zimbabwe, where an economic meltdown has triggered widespread discontent.

The president is interacting with the president of Zimbabwe, worried about what is taking place there and it will have a spillover to South Africa. 

Ace Magashule, African National Congress secretary-general 

Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s international relations minister, discussed the matter with Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo by phone on Tuesday, Pandor’s department said on Twitter. 

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The envoys will depart as soon as arrangements can be made and will “identify possible ways in which South Africa can assist Zimbabwe,” Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement on Thursday.

Zimbabwe is facing shortages of fuel and food, a 737 percent inflation rate and a collapse in the value of the local currency that has spurred demands by teachers, bankers and health-care workers to be paid in US dollars.

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Human rights groups allege the government has used measures that were ostensibly imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus to quash political dissent and prevent street protests. At least 60 people, including novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga, were arrested across the country last week, according to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said in a national address on Monday that there were “dark forces” within and outside the country undermining its economic recovery.

While the US, UK and other Western nations have been stinging in their criticism of Zimbabwe, South Africa’s government has traditionally refrained from criticizing its neighbor, a long-standing political ally, or involving itself in its internal politics.

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress also signaled a departure from its usual hands-off approach, with its Secretary-General Ace Magashule announcing that the party will hold a special session to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe.

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“We see what is happening in Zimbabwe,” Magashule told the Johannesburg-based broadcaster eNCA in an interview on Thursday. “The president is interacting with the president of Zimbabwe, worried about what is taking place there and it will have a spillover to South Africa.”

The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, the nation’s ruling party, considered Magashule’s comments “completely out of order,” Patrick Chinamasa, its acting spokesman said in an emailed statement on Friday.

Zimbabwean authorities have also downplayed the recent upheaval.

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“To set the record straight, there is no crisis or implosion in Zimbabwe, neither has there been any abduction or war on citizens,” Nick Mangwana, the government’s spokesman, said in an emailed statement on Thursday.