By Levy Masiteng
Twenty-seven undocumented teenage boys, who were recently rescued from the abandoned Stilfontein mine where illegal miners continue to resurface, have been repatriated to Mozambique.
The North West social development department said social workers carried out the repatriation.
Following a court order, they were accompanied by a police escort who took the teenagers to the Lebombo border, where they were handed over to their Mozambican counterparts.
The boys are aged between 13 and 17.
“Among the 27 undocumented children, 15 were found by the police in Matlosana and 12 others resurfaced from the abandoned mines and were placed in a temporary safe care in the capital Mahikeng for two weeks,” said department spokesperson Petrus Siko.
The Mozambican consulate issued temporary travel documents and allowed a care-to-care process between the departments in the two countries.
Social development MEC Basetsana Sussana Dantjie expressed her gratitude for the children’s safe return to their home country.
“We thank all the stakeholders who came forward and played a critical role in ensuring that these children receive the necessary care and protection. We also thank the Mozambican consulate for speeding up the process of repatriation.”
Dantjie said the department was ready to provide similar services to other children who may resurface from the old gold mines in the area.
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