The North West Department of Social Development has expressed concern that some of the undocumented illegal miners found at the abandoned shaft in Stilfontein, are minors.
The department said most of the minors are from SADC countries, mostly from Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.
“The Department of Social Development which in terms of the Constitution Of South Africa, the Children’s Act, Child Justice Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is mandated to protect the rights of children.
“Based on the outcomes of the court proceedings, seek to place all identified and legally declared undocumented children in accommodation, and provide for their basic needs, while they are still waiting to be processed in terms of the Child Justice Act.
“The Court will, in terms of the provisions of the Child Justice Act formally charge the children whilst they are placed in the safety of the facilities of the department,” said the department spokesperson, Bathembu Futshane.
The department also highlighted that it has appointed translators, as language challenges were identified as a barrier during previous court hearings.
“Furthermore, the department has engaged the Zimbabwean and Mozambique embassies for the issuance of repatriation certificate /traveling documents. Health services have been provided to the children to ensure that they are healthy and that their rights were not violated,” explained Futshane.
The department will in the meanwhile, as part of its child protection services, conduct a comprehensive assessment to ascertain if they are indeed children who need care and protection, and will continue to provide the necessary support until the repatriation process has been concluded.
