Thirty-three undocumented children aged between 4 and 15 were intercepted at Beitbridge Border

Thirty-three undocumented children intercepted at Beitbridge Border

Zuko Komisa

The Border Management Authority has intercepted 33 undocumented children aged 4 to 15 being transported from South Africa to Zimbabwe at the Beitbridge Port of Entry.
Two Zimbabwean men were arrested for facilitating the illegal movement of minors after a junior border guard discovered the group inside a minibus taxi on Tuesday.
The children have been placed in the care of the Department of Social Development while the suspects await their court appearance later this week.

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has intercepted a group of 33 undocumented children, aged between 4 and 15, at the Beitbridge Port of Entry.

The children were discovered on Tuesday afternoon being transported from South Africa into Zimbabwe in a foreign-registered minibus taxi.

During a routine search, a junior border guard identified the minors inside the vehicle.

Following the discovery, two Zimbabwean men, aged 23 and 32, were arrested on charges of facilitating illegal movement and violating the Immigration Act. Both suspects are expected to appear in court later this week.

BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato confirmed the children have been handed over to the Department of Social Development for processing under child protection protocols.

Commending the vigilance of the border guard, Dr Masiapato warned parents against using illegal channels to move children across borders, reiterating the authority’s commitment to ending child exploitation.