Undocumented child migrants in South Africa: A study of service provision

Abstract

Today, migration is increasingly used as a survival strategy. Worldwide, thousands are desperate to escape the destitution, political instability and civil wars that have come to represent daily life in their country. This is especially true for Africa, where most countries are faced with immense levels of poverty, violence and underdevelopment. Indeed, the countries surrounding South Africa are among the poorest of the world. With its newly embedded democracy and thriving economy (at least in comparison to that of its neighbouring countries) South Africa has become a hot-spot for many, with thousands originating from neighbouring countries like Mozambique and Lesotho, but even further still, including Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, with influx levels steadily rising since 2000, Zimbabweans are currently the largest migrant group in the country. Children make up a significant portion of this number as their movement independent of adults has been rising continuously. There is no certainty on the actual number of children crossing the border from day to day. What the few existing sources do tell us is that the severity of the problem extends beyond the issue of numbers. Whether we are dealing with five hundred or five thousand child migrants, the extreme vulnerability of these minors hints at the desperate need for social assistance and protection.