'96 undocumented children detained for illicit mining’ 28 November 2024

About 96 undocumented children have been detained after being found among a group of illicit miners in Khuma, Stilfontein, North West. In a statement yesterday, the Department of Social Development said the provincial department had received information about the arrest of the minors. Most of the illicit miners, including the undocumented children, are suspected to originate from SADC countries such as Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho. The Department of Social Development is mandated by the Constitution of South Africa, the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, the Child Justice Act 75 of 2008, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to protect children’s rights.

“Based on the outcomes of the court proceedings, the department will seek to place all identified and legally declared undocumented children in accommodation and provide for their basic needs, while they are still waiting to be processed in terms of the Child Justice Act. “The court will, in terms of the provisions of the Child Justice Act, formally charge the children while they are placed in the safety of the facilities of the department,” the statement by the department read. It added that it had identified cultural mediation to assist with translation, as language has been a barrier. Additionally, it has engaged the Zimbabwean and Mozambique embassies to issue repatriation certificates and travel documents.

Health services have been provided to ensure the children are healthy and that their rights are upheld. “During this period of processing, the department will, as part of its child protection services, conduct a comprehensive assessment to ascertain if they are indeed children in need of care and protection. “The department will continue to provide the necessary support until the repatriation process is concluded,” it said.