A multi-disciplinary team comprising of Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Kimberley Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit and Kimberley Crime Prevention arrested two Zimbabwean nationals on allegations of trafficking in persons. The two suspects, a male (46) and female (41) were seen boarding a bus in Midrand with (14) undocumented kids aged between 6 and 14 years, (8) boys and (6) girls.
Police were alerted to the incident by a vigilant passenger in a bus from Midrand in Johannesburg en-route to Cape Town. The bus made a stopover in Kimberley, the passenger called an off duty Police officer who in turn alerted the multi-disciplinary team for investigation and arrest. The suspects claimed to be taking the kids to their parents in Cape Town, information the police could not verify leading to the arrest. The victims (kids) were inspected and looked dirty without any additional clothes nor bags, and looked hungry. Provincial Trafficking in Persons rapid response team lead by Department of Social Development was contacted to assist with placing the kids at a place of safety and providing food.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Northern Cape Major General Steven Mabuela appreciated the information from the vigilant caller and the efforts of the off duty police officer Sergeant Phumla Mpolokeng which lead to the police’s timely intervention.
