Relatives arrested as girl (13) is rescued from alleged abductors
A follow up on a suspicion of human trafficking led members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to rescue a 13-year-old girl from an alleged human trafficking syndicate in Gauteng.
CAPE TOWN, 15 June (ANA) – A follow up on a suspicion of human trafficking led members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to rescue a 13-year-old girl from an alleged human trafficking syndicate in Gauteng.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase said the girl was rescued in Heidelberg on Tuesday.
He said a multidisciplinary operation was conducted which included the Hawks’ Serious Corruption and Organised Crime Investigation teams in Vaal Rand, Vanderbijlpark SAPS Task Team for serious and violent crimes, and Family Violence and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in the Vaal Rand.
Nwaklase said the team followed up on information of suspicious human trafficking activities planned in the Heidelberg area whereby a stepmother and step grandmother allegedly conspired to sell a 13-year-old girl to a human trafficking syndicate for R40 million (US$2.9 million).
He said a waylay investigation was put in motion and the joint police team seized the R30,000 entrapment cash and electronic gadgets for further investigation.
The operation saw officers arrest two women, aged 36 and 57 for trafficking in persons, conspiracy to sell a minor for sexual exploitation, abduction and theft of a child.
The child has since been taken to a place of safety.
Provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa commended the investigation team for the success.
“What is rather disturbing with this situation is that family members were found to be involved in the alleged crime committed against their own.
“Setting up an operation of this magnitude shows bravery and we applaud the investigation team for executing it without anyone being harmed and the child was rescued safely.
“In the past few months we have made a major breakthrough in successfully dismantling illegal brothels in the Vaal Rand where police officers were arrested for human trafficking related allegations,” Kadwa said.
The arrested women are expected to appear in the Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
-African News Agency (ANA)
