Zimbabwean children held for three months by South African government

Tariro Washinyira - GroundUp

Eight Zimbabwean children were taken into the custody of South Africa's Department of Social Development after allegedly being smuggled into the country in a truck, according to this article from Ground Up. The children have been in state custody for three months, with little to no contact with their families, and are being held at a facility in Brits, according to their parents. The children were traveling from Zimbabwe to South Africa to be reunited with their parents. “We have tried everything in our power to have our children back, " said one parent. "I trusted the Malaicha [the truck driver]. He always brings in children with no hassles. Lately, it has become costly and difficult to obtain a Zimbabwean passport [for the children], that is why I took a shortcut."