Almost 100 undocumented children suspected to be from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, namely Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho were arrested for being involved in illicit mining activities.

The North West provincial Department of Social Development said it received information that about 96 undocumented children had been arrested and detained as part of the illicit miners in Khuma Stilfontein, also known as Kenneth Kaunda District.

The department confirmed that most of the illicit miners, including undocumented children, are suspected to be originating from Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho.

The department, which in terms of the Constitution of South Africa, the Children’s the Act, Child Justice Act, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC,) is mandated to protect the rights of children.

According to Bathembu Futshane, a spokesperson for Social development, the goal is to house all identified and legally declared undocumented children and meet their basic needs while they wait to be processed under the Child Justice Act, based on the results of the court proceedings.

Futshane said the court will formally charge the youngsters while they are in the department’s secure facilities in accordance with the Child Justice Act’s provisions.

“The department has identified cultural mediation to assist in translation as language was identified as a barrier. Furthermore, the department has engaged the Zimbabwean and Mozambique embassies for the issuance of repatriation certificates/travelling documents.

“Health services have been provided to the children to ensure that they are healthy and that their rights were not violated,” said Futshane.

He said during this period of processing, the department will conduct a comprehensive assessment to ascertain if they are indeed children who are in need of care and protection.

The department also said it will continue to provide the necessary support until the repatriation process is concluded.

The Star

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