Mozambique: At least five killed in attack attributed to the Naparama paramilitary group
Human trafficking: Six Mozambican youngsters rescued from a Mpumalanga farm. 40-year-old Mozambican arrested
3:00 CAT | 16 May 2022
File photo: Lusa
- A Mozambican suspect in their 40s was arrested by the Hawks and will be appearing in court on Monday for trafficking of persons.
Six young and undocumented Mozambicans were rescued in Bethal farm, Mpumalanga over the weekend and a man was arrested for trafficking in persons.
The victims were brought to the country under false promises of being given jobs.
Man arrested in connection with trafficking victims
A 40-year-old undocumented Mozambican suspect has since been arrested by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation based in Secunda on Saturday, 14 May.
The man is expected to appear before the Bethal Magistrate Court on Monday 16 May for trafficking in persons.
According to Hawks spokesperson, Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, they received a tip-off about young and undocumented Mozambicans who were kept on a farm around Bethal.
“The team promptly responded to the information and on arrival at the farm, they found six undocumented Mozambicans.”
They complained to the police that they were recruited from Mozambique and were promised that someone in South Africa has a job for them.
How the trafficked youngsters crossed the border
The victims alleged that they travelled from Mozambique on 5 May 2022 with a blue bakkie.
Before reaching the border gate from Mozambique’s side, the driver stopped and told them to go and pass through the river while he passes through the border post.
“The victims did as they were instructed and met with the driver at the other side of the border in South Africa,” Captain Sekgotodi explained.
It is then that the driver took them to Bethal on a farm where they were handed over to the suspect.
The victims further told the police that the driver of the bakkie was paid R800 for each victim by the recruiter in Mozambique.
“The victims further alleged that on arrival at the suspect’s, place they were instructed to cut the grass.
“During the night the suspect took them with a bakkie to steal coal from the nearby mines and he would only pay them R100 after stealing the coal and never paid them for other jobs..” Captain Sekgotodi said.
The Provincial Head for the Hawks Major General Zodwa Mokoena applauded the team for their swift response to arrest the suspect for trafficking in persons and rescued the victims.
She further commended the public for reporting the wrongful activities in their respective communities.
The victims are kept in a safe place while the investigation continues.
No trace of the missing little girl
Meanwhile, police in Mpumalanga are still searching for a missing girl and a man who they believe can assist them in the investigation.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said six-year-old, Bontle Zethu Ditebogo Mashiyane has been missing since Saturday 30 April 2022.
“The girl from Mganduzweni in Masoyi near White River was playing with other children at home when she disappeared,” Brigadier Mohlal said.
It was later discovered, that Mashiyane disappeared without a trace.
Police believe that a man named Collen Hlongwane can assist them in their investigation of the missing girl.
Exploited
The victims allege the suspect instructed them to cut the grass and during the night he would use a bakkie to transport them to nearby mines to steal coal.
The suspect reportedly paid the victims R100 each for stealing coal but never paid them for other jobs.
The victims are being kept in a safe place while investigations continue.
The Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation General Zodwa Mokoena commended the public for reporting the crime.
#sapsHQ Mpumalanga: A 40yr-old suspect is expected to appear before the Bethal Magistrate’s Court today after he was arrested by the #Hawks based in Secunda on 14/05. The suspect was arrested at a farm in Bethal for Trafficking in persons. MEhttps://t.co/AAH3ZoCpUn pic.twitter.com/rIoTVunQcg
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) May 16, 2022
Source: The South African / The Citizen
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