B) Waive all fees applicable to applications for immigration permits for
unaccompanied children so that these children benefit from provision
of Section 31(2) (b) of Immigration Act;
C) Fast track applications of unaccompanied children and in the
meantime, allow children to go to school while they await the outcome
of their application;
D) Make accessible refugee reception offices in all provinces so that
unaccompanied children can be able to apply for grant/renewal of
asylum and refugee permits in the province where they live;
E) Ensure that social worker is always assigned to assist
unaccompanied children by amending section 32 of the Refugees Act
which makes it discretionary for a Children’s Court to order a social
worker to assist such a child to make an application for asylum.
I)
Conclusion
40. The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
commends the Government of South Africa for its efforts to implement the African
Children’s Charter and aspires for the implementation of these recommendations.
The Committee would like to indicate that it will undertake a follow up Mission to
assess the implementation of these recommendations in the foreseeable future.
The Committee would also like to invite the State party to submit its periodic
reports in 2020 in accordance with the Committee’s Guidelines of Consideration
of State Party Periodic Reports.
41. The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child takes
this opportunity to renew to the Government of the Republic of South Africa the
assurances of its highest consideration.
15