Zim children smuggled to South Africa in high numbers as ‘illegal’ parents can’t visit for Christmas

Zimbabwe authorities at Beitbridge border post have raised concern over the illegal movement of children into South Africa.

About 100 young children were rescued last while they were using illegal crossing points between the two countries.

Their parents who live illegally in South Africa and cannot travel back home are engaging cross border transporters popularly known as Omalayitsha to smuggle children without documents into the neighbouring country.

This is a common thing around the festive holidays as schools have closed.

A large number of minors are currently held at reception centres in Beitbridge and Plumtree after they were caught trying to cross into Botswana and South Africa.