Johannesburg – At least 443 children were stopped by the Border Management Authority (BMA) from being “trafficked” into South Africa from Zimbabwe through the Beitbridge Border Post on Saturday night.
The children under the age of eight were being transported unaccompanied in 42 buses.
Commenting on the matter, SA Home Affairs Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi said he “strongly welcomes commendable management of South African borders by the BMA following a successful sting operation at the Beitbridge Port of Entry last night”.
He said the BMA Border Guard, the Counter Corruption and Security Services Branch of the Department of Home Affairs and members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) conducted a sting operation at the Beitbridge Port of Entry wherein 42 buses from Zimbabwe were stopped and searched.
During the search, 443 unaccompanied minors under the age of eight were found in the buses, being trafficked into South Africa, with no consent of parents or guardians.
“The hard work of the Border Management Authority is commendable, showing we’re pulling out all stops to prevent acts of crime and illegal entry into the country,” Minister Motsoaledi said.
“Clearly, the BMA is hard at work and is making inroads in effective border law enforcement.”
The minister said all persons in the buses were refused entry into South Africa, and after engaging with the Zimbabwean Authorities, they were all taken back to Zimbabwe, including the children.
All the children who were saved were holding Zimbabwean passports, and thus they were handed over to the Zimbabwean Authorities for processing.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms these acts of criminality especially where the interest of the child is at stake,” said Minister Motsoaledi.
“It’s unacceptable that these minors were not with their parents or guardians throughout this ordeal.
“Protecting children, especially in this period of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign, is paramount.”
In the same night, 150 adult Zimbabwean nationals were also apprehended and stopped.
BMA Commissioner, Dr. Mike Masiapato, assures the nation that, “the BMA, Home Affairs officials and members of SAPS are on the ground establishing all relevant details of the incident”.
The minister said more work was being done to ensure the detection of all perpetrators and bring them to book.
Minister Motsoaledi added: “The entire episode at Beitbridge shows great achievements of the BMA and in a very short space of time. It’s a good sign in tackling sharply the outcry on porous borders.
“We’ll continue relentlessly to act swiftly in enforcing immigration and other laws in the interest of national security and safety of all persons in the country, especially during this peak period, the festive season, and beyond.”
