Cosatu yesterday demanded action against Limpopo farmers who arrest Zimbabwean border-crossers, but the farmers said they were merely protecting private property.

Cosatu yesterday demanded action against Limpopo farmers who arrest Zimbabwean border-crossers, but the farmers said they were merely protecting private property.

The rounding up of Zimbabwean migrants by farm patrols was reminiscent of apartheid-era white farm commandos, the Congress of SA Trade Unions said.

"There is no place for such behaviour in South Africa," said Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven.

The Transvaal Agricultural Union (Tau) said members were protecting their farms, insisting that the influx of fleeing Zimbabweans posed agricultural and veterinary risks.

"Our attitude is to arrest people who are trespassing on private property and hand them over to the police," said Tau's Chris van Zyl.

Farmers union Agri SA said it did not support the action.

Gert Rall said: "You don't correct one crime by committing another. We don't agree with it." - Sapa