South Africa's BMA calls for urgent talks with Zimbabwe

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has called for urgent engagement with the Zimbabwean government after intercepting another group of undocumented Zimbabwean children attempting to illegally cross the South Africa-Zimbabwe border.

On Tuesday, BMA officers at the Beitbridge Port of Entry detained 33 children, aged between four and 15, for attempting to cross the border from South Africa back into Zimbabwe.

Two Zimbabwean men were arrested for facilitating the illegal movement of persons under the Immigration Act. BMA Spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi says earlier this month, they intercepted 20 minors and 10 adults near the Limpopo River attempting to do the same.

"This is a very serious crisis that we are dealing with. At this point, there needs to be serious engagement with the Zimbabwean government in terms of the challenges that we are experiencing in terms of the movement of undocumented children. Preliminary investigations indicate that these children came here for the festive season period; now they are going back home, but the manner in which this movement is being conducted is wrong."