Current:Home > StocksSouth Africa intercepts buses carrying more than 400 unaccompanied children from Zimbabwe -Wealth Legacy Solutions
South Africa intercepts buses carrying more than 400 unaccompanied children from Zimbabwe
Charles Langston View
Date:2025-03-11 04:35:30
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Border officials in South Africa say they have intercepted dozens of buses carrying more than 400 young children from Zimbabwe without parents or legal guardians in an anti-trafficking operation.
The officials say the children were being “trafficked” into South Africa, although an organization representing foreign nationals living in South Africa says it’s likely the children were being sent to visit their parents, who are working in South Africa, for the end of year holidays. The buses were sent back to Zimbabwe.
More than 1 million Zimbabweans live in South Africa, many of them illegally, having moved to their southern neighbor over the past 15 years to escape Zimbabwe’s economic turmoil.
South African Border Management Agency commissioner Mike Masiapato said Sunday that South African police stopped and searched 42 buses entering from Zimbabwe on Saturday night and found 443 children under the age of 8 traveling unaccompanied.
“We denied them entry and activated the Zimbabwean officials to process them back into Zimbabwe,” Masiapato said.
The buses were allowed through on the Zimbabwean side of the Beitbridge border post, South African border officials said.
Ngqabutho Mabhena, chairperson of the Africa Diaspora Forum, which represents foreign nationals living in South Africa, said his organization believed the buses were carrying Zimbabwean children coming to South Africa to visit their parents, which is a regular phenomenon near the end of the year. He said it is common that children are sent over the border without proper documentation allowing them to travel as unaccompanied minors.
“We always tell Zimbabwean parents living in South Africa that if they arrange for their children to come to South Africa, they must ... arrange all necessary documentation,” Mabhena said. “It is irresponsible for parents to let children travel without passports and to travel with strangers. We have addressed this with parents.”
Around 178,000 Zimbabweans live and work in South Africa legally under an exemption permit, but a 2022 South African census said there were more than a million Zimbabweans in the country. Some estimates say there may be as many as 3 million.
South Africa, which is Africa’s most advanced economy, launched a new border force in October to clamp down on illegal immigration from Zimbabwe and other countries.
___
AP Africa news: Africa News Reports ' Latest News in Africa ' AP News
veryGood! (88)
Related
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- 10 service members injured, airlifted after naval training incident in Nevada: Reports
- Silk non-dairy milk recalled in Canada amid listeria outbreak: Deaths increased to three
- No Honda has ever done what the Prologue Electric SUV does so well
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- Iowa proposes summer grocery boxes as alternative to direct cash payments for low-income families
- Police arrest 4 in killing of 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor
- Tennessee family’s lawsuit says video long kept from them shows police force, not drugs, killed son
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Jewish groups file federal complaint alleging antisemitism in Fulton schools
Ranking
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Cardinals superfan known as Rally Runner gets 10 months in prison for joining Jan. 6 Capitol riot
- Taylor Swift Changes Name of Song to Seemingly Diss Kanye West
- Property tax task force delivers recommendations to Montana governor
- 'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
- Zoë Kravitz Details Hurtful Decision to Move in With Dad Lenny Kravitz Amid Lisa Bonet Divorce
- Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars announce joint single 'Die with a Smile'
- Rookie Weston Wilson hits for cycle as Phillies smash Nationals
Recommendation
Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
Asteroids safely fly by Earth all the time. Here’s why scientists are watching Apophis.
Jennifer Lopez Visits Ben Affleck on His Birthday Amid Breakup Rumors
The Nasdaq sell-off has accelerated, and history suggests it'll get even worse
McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
Ohio State coach Ryan Day names Will Howard as the team's starting quarterback
A woman who left a newborn in a box on the side of the road won’t be charged
'Tiger King' director uncages new 'Chimp Crazy' docuseries that is truly bananas