RECENT media reports paint a concerning picture for some Zimbabwean children.
There have been reports of South African border operations having repeatedly intercepted groups of children travelling without a parent or lawful guardian, including very young children.
On January 8, 2026, South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) confirmed it had intercepted “more than 20 minors” near the Limpopo River close to the Beitbridge border fence, aged 5 to 17, and that “the remaining minors were found to be travelling without parental supervision or lawful guardianship.”
In a separate incident reported by South African public news services on January 14, 2026, officials are said to have intercepted 33 undocumented minor children (aged 4 to 15) on a minibus at the Beitbridge port of entry.
The concern is also that many cases may not have been captured by the system. That means the true number of children affected since 2025 could certainly be higher than what makes the headlines.
South Africa’s BMA describes a “zero-tolerance approach to the unlawful movement of children across South Africa’s borders” and states that child protection is a priority. In the January 8 2026 incident, the BMA reported that it was working with SAPS and the Department of Social Development (DSD) to verify identities, establish circumstances and determine appropriate interventions.
Keep Reading
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Bulls to charge into Zimbabwe gold stocks
- Ndiraya concerned as goals dry up
- Letters: How solar power is transforming African farms
South African immigration rules require strict documentation for children travelling, especially when unaccompanied.
Official requirements for an unaccompanied minor include a passport, a birth certificate/equivalent, parental consent and details of the receiving adult in South Africa.
These rules are intended to reduce trafficking, abduction and identity fraud risks; though families sometimes bypass them due to, most concerning, lack of awareness of the dangers that parents will be exposing their children to.
Policy guidance for migrant children
South Africa has developed national guidance for separated and unaccompanied migrant children, emphasising multi-stakeholder coordination (Home Affairs, DSD, SAPS, schools, health services) and recognising gaps in recording and referral pathways.
Zimbabwe’s response is partly visible through child protection and anti-trafficking frameworks, often supported by humanitarian partners along border corridors.
A Unicef-supported analysis on unaccompanied and separated children highlighted the importance of coordinated case management, identification, referral and safe placement for children on the move and further documented the scale of mobility pressures in the broader Limpopo corridor context.
On the Zimbabwe side, practical measures commonly involve social welfare actors, police and border officials working to identify children, contact families and prevent onward movement into unsafe situations, though resource constraints and cross-border coordination gaps persist (especially where children move irregularly).
How international laws protect such children
International and regional law is clear on provisions protecting children on the move.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in Article 9(1) provides that “State Parties shall ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will…” except where necessary for the child’s best interests.
CRC further provides in Article 11(1) that “State Parties shall take measures to combat the illicit transfer … of children abroad.”
The law thus demands best-interest decision-making and strong measures to prevent child exploitation.
What the laws in South Africa and Zimbabwe say
Both South Africa and Zimbabwe have laws in place that protect children. Their Constitutions separately provide for children in sections 28 and 81 respectively.
Zimbabwe’s Constitution protects children’s rights and limits parental authority where it prejudices children’s rights, recognising that parental decisions must not undermine children’s entitlements.
The Constitution grants the High Court overall authority on the rights and welfare of children. Furthermore, Zimbabwean law criminalises ill-treatment and neglect of children, including exposure to harm. This is directly relevant where parents knowingly permit children to cross borders alone or under suspicious “handlers,” exposing them to foreseeable harm.
Why it is dangerous for parents to allow the movement of unaccompanied children
Even when parents intend “just a short trip,” an unaccompanied border crossing creates predictable risks. These include:
Trafficking and exploitation: South Africa’s BMA itself flagged “serious concerns regarding child protection and possible exploitation.”
Interrupted education and increased risk of child abuse.
Physical dangers around the Limpopo/riverine and bush crossing areas, including drowning.
Poor access to services such as healthcare, child-friendly services such as safe shelter, especially for children intercepted outside formal ports.
School disruption and psychosocial harm, including anxiety and trauma from transit and questioning.
From a legal standpoint, where foreseeable harm occurs, allowing such travel can also raise neglect/ill-treatment issues under Zimbabwean law.
Recommendations: what parents and governments should do
For parents and caregivers
Do not send children across the border alone or with “handlers.” If travel is unavoidable, ensure lawful guardianship arrangements and documentation are in place.
Use official ports of entry and avoid irregular crossings.
Keep a child travel pack with a certified birth certificate copy, emergency contacts, medical information and a written consent for non-parental travel.
If economic pressure is driving child movement, seek community-based support from your nearest social welfare office or church rather than exposing a child to risky migration.
It costs both the South African and the Zimbabwean government a lot in terms of resources needed to reunite intercepted children with parents and relatives.
For the South African and Zimbabwean governments (jointly and locally)
Improve data systems and publish periodic statistics on intercepted, unaccompanied minors at Beitbridge and nearby informal crossing hotspots, recognising under-counting issues.
Strengthen prevention through community messaging in Zimbabwean and South African border towns on trafficking indicators and lawful child travel requirements.
Enforce the law against facilitators, not the children, by prioritising arrests and prosecution of traffickers/smugglers while ensuring children enter protective care pathways.
Jointly tackle the drivers of risky migration of children. This requires coordinated action on documentation and social protection.