Save the Children praises BMA’s child protection efforts

The CEO of Save the Children South Africa, Gugu Xaba, says the organisation is encouraged by how the Border Management Authority has handled cases involving undocumented children at the country’s borders.

This follows several interceptions of undocumented minors during the Easter weekend.

In one incident, 12 children were separated from their parents after a bus carrying 32 undocumented Zimbabwean nationals was stopped at a roadblock on the N1 near Bloemfontein.

In another case, six children were intercepted at the Beitbridge border post while allegedly being smuggled into the country.

Xaba says BMA officials followed the correct legal procedures.

“Border management has improved. Border management was able to identify that these are children, they documented them, they reached out and found Social Development and handed over the children to Social Development,” said Xaba.

“Social Development will then screen the children, identify vulnerabilities, and then refer them to temporary spaces where they can keep the children whilst they try and find their relatives in South Africa or back home where they are coming from,” she added.

Authorities say processes are in place to ensure the protection and reunification of affected children.

BMA monitors Beitbridge Border Post