Khuma Stilfontein: About 96 undocumented children have been detained after they were found to be part of a group of illicit miners in Khuma Stilfontein, in the North West. In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Social Development said the North West provincial department had received information about the arrest of undocumented minors.

According to South African Government News Agency, most of the illicit miners, including the undocumented children, are suspected to originate from SADC countries, namely Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho. The Department of Social Development is mandated to protect the rights of children in terms of the Constitution of South Africa, the Children’s Act, Child Justice Act, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

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 under the Child Justice Act. The court will formally charge the children in terms of the provisions of the Child Justice Act while they are placed in the safety of the department’s facilities.

The department has identified cultural mediation to assist in translation as language has been recognized as a barrier. Furthermore, the department has engaged the Zimbabwean and Mozambique embassies for the issuance of repatriation certificates and traveling documents. Health services have been provided to the children to ensure that they are healthy and that their rights were not violated.

During this period of processing, the department will conduct a comprehensive assessment to ascertain if the children are indeed in need of care and protection as part of its child protection services. The department will continue to provide the necessary support until the repatriation process is concluded.