A multi-disciplinary operation yielded great results when three human trafficking victims aged 18, 29 and 33 were rescued from an alleged brothel operating under the guise of a guesthouse in Benoni on Thursday, 30 December 2021.
The victim who was visiting relatives in Vanderbijlpark was allegedly lured to Benoni by someone she reportedly met on the dating sites and kept contact through social media. She was last seen at her relatives home on the 26 December and was unreachable.
She later contacted her cousin and reportedly informed her that her phone was taken, she was kept against her will and forced to a life of sexual exploitation.
The joint police team led by the Hawks‘ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in Vaalrand working together with Sedibeng K9 unit, Vanderbijlpark Task Team and Missing person Coordinator pounced on the guesthouse and traced the 18 year-old victim after her family opened a human trafficking case.
Two more victims from Sebokeng and Kwa-Zulu Natal province, were rescued along with the 18 year-old and were taken to a place of safety.
Subsequently two suspects aged 39 and 25 were arrested and are expected to appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates Court on Monday, 3 January 2022, for contravening the Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013 for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
The Hawks Provincial Head in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa welcomed the arrest and commended the dedication of a multi-disciplinary team that is key to arresting these traffickers.
“With Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in the spotlight our efforts also contribute to quelling this phenomenon”. He also advised ladies to exercise caution as and when they establish relations through social media.
