PRETORIA – The Department of Social Development is set to repatriate a five-year-old South African child from Mauritius, where the child has been living in prison with her mother, who is serving a sentence for drug trafficking.
A delegation from the department will depart for Mauritius on December 9, 2024, with plans to return with the child on December 13, 2024. This follows a request received in May 2024 from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to assist in reuniting the child with her family in South Africa.
Background of the Case
The child’s biological mother was arrested in May 2019 while pregnant, and the child has since been living under her care in prison. The Department of Social Development expressed concern that if the child is not repatriated, she may be placed in the Mauritian welfare system, complicating efforts to reunite her with her family in South Africa.
In line with Section 7 of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, which prioritizes a child’s right to maintain connections with their family and cultural heritage, the department conducted an assessment of the child’s maternal grandmother in the North West province. The grandmother was deemed suitable to provide care and has agreed to look after the child until her mother’s release.
Commitment to South African Children Abroad
The Department of Social Development has been actively assisting distressed South African children in foreign countries. Since 2015, the department has successfully repatriated 22 children. This case reaffirms the department’s commitment to protecting vulnerable children and ensuring their well-being in accordance with South African law.
The child will be placed in the care of her grandmother upon her arrival in South Africa, providing her with a stable environment while maintaining her connection to her family and heritage.
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