JOHANNESBURG - South African border management officials will next week meet with their Zimbabwean counterparts to address the escalating number of undocumented minors intercepted at the Beitbridge border.
According to authorities, more than 50 undocumented minors were intercepted at the Beitbridge port of entry in two separate incidents.
Last week, 20 children aged five to 17 were found travelling without parents or guardians. On Tuesday, 33 more were stopped. Two Zimbabwean men have been arrested and face charges under the Immigration Act.
All minor children were handed over to the Department of Social Development.
Border Management Authority Commissioner Michael Masiapato said authorities were seeing an escalation in the number of children trying to enter the country illegally.
He said in the coming week, they would be meeting with Zimbabwean authorities to address the situation.
Masiapato said the key issue was to ensure parents comply and to deal with the compliance of transporters.