‘Children have to start again’: Bishop Kizito on the cost of anti-undocumented migrant protests

Bishop Joseph Mary Kizito said children are among those most affected by recent anti-undocumented migrant protests in South Africa, noting that many are being forced to leave the country and restart their lives elsewhere.

Speaking after an annual meeting of diocesan coordinators for migrants, refugees, and human trafficking in Pretoria, the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) Liaison Bishop for the Department for Migrants, Refugees, and Human Trafficking recalled visiting a repatriation centre in Musina. He observed children preparing to return to countries such as Malawi, where they may face different education systems and language barriers after years of attending English-speaking schools in South Africa. Bishop Kizito also noted that these children face disruptions to their religious lives as they move to new parishes and communities.

Sr. Neide Lamperti, the SACBC coordinator for the department, said diocesan reports from 18 dioceses across South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini highlighted separated families and children missing school. Some dioceses are currently raising funds for shoes and uniforms to help children return to classes while responding to families whose livelihoods were disrupted by the unrest and repatriations.