The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
The MINISTRY of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has dismissed reports emanating from South Africa that 443 unaccompanied Zimbabwe minors were intercepted at the Beitbridge border post, revealing that the figure stands at 124.
In a statement, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Cde July Moyo revealed that the border authorities from Zimbabwe and South Africa have not received any official communication or confirmation on the alleged 443 children as reported in some publications.
“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 would like to advise the nation that during the period 25 November 2023 to 3 December 2023, 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,” said Minister Moyo.
He said once identified, the children were moved to a place of safety at Beitbridge Reception Centre awaiting relatives tracing and reunification.
“To date 101 children have since been reunified with their relatives and efforts are underway to reunify the remaining 23 children currently placed at the Reception Centre. The majority of identified children are from Bulawayo Metropolitan Province and Matabeleland South province,” reads the statement.
The Minister noted that these minors were mainly intercepted attempting to cross the border without the requisite travelling documents.
“Others were travelling without an accompanying parent or guardian. The Ministry is working with the Zimbabwe Republic Police to find out perpetrators of this heinous offence.
“As a preventative measure, the Ministry is conducting nationwide awareness raising programs, particularly in these migrant sending communities, to sensitise citizens on responsible parenting and safe migration,” said the Minister.
