33 Zimbabwean minors repatriated from South Africa

THE Government, through its consulate in South Africa, has successfully facilitated the repatriation of 33 Zimbabwean children who were recently intercepted at the Beitbridge Border Post while being smuggled from the neighbouring country.

The children, aged between three and 16 years, were travelling in a Toyota Quantum minibus on January 13 when they were intercepted by officials from South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA).

Two men, who were transporting the minors have since been charged with violating South Africa’s immigration laws.

In a statement released yesterday, the Zimbabwean Consulate in Johannesburg said the children were returned to the country and handed over to the Department of Social Welfare in Beitbridge for assessment and reunification with their parents or guardians.

“The Zimbabwe Consulate in Johannesburg wishes to inform the public that in collaboration with the Department of Social Development of South Africa and relevant stakeholders, it has successfully profiled and facilitated the repatriation of 33 children, who were intercepted on 13 January while travelling from various parts of South Africa to Zimbabwe,” said the Consulate.

The consulate said the children were travelling without valid travel documents.

“Upon arrival in Zimbabwe on January 23, they were handed over to the Department of Social Welfare for further assessment, protection and safe reunification with their families in line with the national child protection frameworks,” read the statement.

The consulate reiterated that the Government places the highest priority on the safety, dignity and well-being of children, urging parents, guardians and transporters to desist from moving minors across borders without proper documentation.

Illegal and irregular migration, the statement noted, exposes children to serious risks, including trafficking, abuse, neglect, detention and loss of identity.

To promote safe and orderly migration, the Government has rolled out e-passport services at the Zimbabwe Consulate in Johannesburg to improve access to travel documents for citizens.

“The Zimbabwe Consulate in Johannesburg urges all Zimbabwean nationals to plan travel responsibly, ensure children are fully documented, and adhere to all immigration and child protection laws. Collective vigilance and compliance are critical to protecting our children and upholding their fundamental rights,” read the statement.

Authorities have reiterated calls to parents and guardians to follow proper legal procedures when travelling with minors across borders, to prevent abuse, trafficking and exploitation.

Despite stiff fines imposed by the South African Home Affairs on omalayitsha caught smuggling undocumented travellers or those with expired passports or no valid visas, into South Africa, cases of smuggling such persons are on the increase.

Those caught smuggling undocumented persons are fined R15 000 per person.

The Zimbabwe-South Africa Cross-Border Co-ordination Committee for Unaccompanied and Separated Migrant Children has on many occasions raised concerns over the rampant smuggling of minors into the neighbouring country.

The committee is made up of officials from the two countries’ social service departments, immigration, police, non-governmental organisations and human rights lawyers.