By ENCA

MUSINA: Children born in South Africa to undocumented migrant parents face an uncertain future.

Teen siblings Lorraine and Lawrence Ncube said being sent to Zimbabwe means leaving behind the only home they have ever known.

They are among thousands of migrants awaiting repatriation in Musina.

The law requires every child born in South Africa to be registered within 30 days, irrespective of their parents’ nationality. But children born to foreign parents do not automatically acquire South African citizenship.

The Ncube siblings, 18 and 16 respectively, were born and raised in South Africa to undocumented Zimbabwean parents.

Neither sibling has South African citizenship.

Their father fled after a mob chased the family from their home in Seshego village, outside Polokwane, last week.

The duo and their mother are now among those being repatriated to Zimbabwe.

Lorraine is leaving with her four-month-old daughter, whose father is South African.

“He wanted me to leave the child behind, but I couldn’t because it’s very hard to leave my child behind.”

The Ncubes have begrudgingly made peace with their repatriation to Zimbabwe.

Beyond the uncertainty awaiting them there, they fear the reality that South Africa’s Home Affairs system may declare them undesirable persons.

Lawrence fears they will be rejected in Zimbabwe even because of the language they speak.

“I feel frustrated and humiliated because it doesn’t seem like life is good there. I don’t know their language. People (Zimbabweans who’re here) say when we get to the border, they’ll kick us off the bus and make us come back here on foot because they regard us Bapedi.”