The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has issued a press statement on the issue of unaccompanied Zimbabwean children intercepted in South Africa. The statement states that the Ministry is concerned with information released by the South African Border Management Authority on the 3rd of December 2023 alleging that 443 unaccompanied Zimbabwean children below the age of 8 years were intercepted in South Africa on fears of child trafficking and were handed over to Zimbabwe Authorities.
The Ministry has clarified that the two (2) Border Authorities on both the Zimbabwean and South African side have not received any official communication or confirmation on the alleged 443 children as reported in some publications.
The Ministry would like to advise the nation that during the period 25 November 2023 to 3 December 2023, it received a total of 124 children (71 males and 53 females) who were intercepted and handed over to the Department of Immigration at Beitbridge Border Post.
Upon identification, the children were moved to a place of safety at Beitbridge Reception Centre awaiting relatives/family tracing and reunification. To date, 101 children have since been reunified.
The Ministry is appealing to members of the public to come forward if they have any information on the 443 children.
The Ministry is also working with the South African authorities to investigate the matter further.
The Children’s Act (Chapter 5:06) as amended identifies unaccompanied and separated migrant children as children in need of care and protection. The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare is the lead agency in the care and protection of children in Zimbabwe.
The Ministry is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children in Zimbabwe.
