Zimbabwean children deported from SA went through traumatic experience

Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Petronella Kagonye says the Zimbabwean government is working hard to rehabilitate eight children who were deported from South Africa.

She said the eight children who were repatriated from South Africa on March 6, following an ill-fated court application seeking an order to bar South African authorities from deporting them, are traumatized.

"It was clear that they (children) went through a traumatic experience," Kaginye said.

The eight children whose ages range from three to fourteen were found in transit and without requisite identity documents, in November 2017.

"The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has been actively working in ensuring that their psycho-social well being is restored," Kagonye said in a statement.
 
She said in ensuring that the children are well taken care of, "officers profiled each child with individual care plans being drawn.

"These children will soon be re-united with their family and relatives following our standing procedures."

Minister Kagonye said it is clear that these children are victims of organized syndicates between parents and illegal cross border transport operators.

"Clearly, this is a coordinated syndicate facilitating the smuggling of children and in this case these arrangements were made by the parents of the children resident in South Africa. We also learnt that they were in constant contact with the Malaicha's during the ill fated journey from Zimbabwe to South Africa.

It is alleged that a Malaicha who stays in Chitungwiza allegedly facilitated this smuggling of the children in a haulage truck which also had adults.

Kagonye thanked South Africa's Department of Social Development for taking care of the children at Reamogetswe Child and Youth Care Centre in Rustensburg adding that the Zimbabwean government continues to render necessary and appropriate support to the children.