According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, almost half of the world\u2019s forcibly displaced people are children. A number of factors lead to the migration of foreign children to South Africa. Some flee conflict and unrest, natural disaster or recruitment as child soldiers, while others leave their countries in the face of extreme poverty.<\/p>\n
For a variety of reasons, foreign children sometimes find themselves alone or unaccompanied in South Africa. Quite often, they are forced to migrate to South Africa alone or they become separated from their caregivers while en route. Other times, they are accompanied to South Africa with a caregiver but are later abandoned on the territory. This group of children is commonly referred to as \u201cunaccompanied foreign minors\u201d.<\/p>\n
Unaccompanied foreign minors, according to South African policy guidelines, are by their very nature considered to be \u201cchildren in need of care and protection\u201d. When identified by authorities they ought to immediately be referred to the children\u2019s court by their social worker for the children\u2019s court to make an inquiry into the child\u2019s circumstances. From the inquiry, the court will determine whether the child is indeed a child \u201cin need of care and protection\u201d. This process also involves a finding by the social worker on whether or not there is a possibility of reunification with their family or re-settlement in their country of origin.<\/p>\n