A suspect (43) is due to appear before the Sabie Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 12 September 2023 after he was intercepted by the Nelspruit based Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team at Nelspruit taxi rank on Monday, 11 September 2023 for contravening the Trafficking in Persons Act (TIP).
During an illegal mining disruptive operation conducted at Sabi, a minor was arrested while other suspects run into the shafts. The child was taken to hospital where it was confirmed that he is 15-year-old. The teenager reported that he was brought illegally from Mozambique to South Africa by his uncle who promised him work.
He further alleged that he worked at his uncle’s tavern and did not receive any payment. He was reportedly mistreated and ended up escaping from his uncle’s place and joined a wrong group of people who introduced him to illegal mining.
The Nelspruit based Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation received the report and intervened and discovered that both the uncle and the minor did not have legal documents to be in the republic. The minor was taken to the place of safety while the uncle was arrested and charged with contravention of Trafficking in persons and illegal immigration Act.
Content retrieved from: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=48357.
