Four men were rescued and a man was arrested for alleged human trafficking in Chebeng Village, outside Seshego in Limpopo, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) said on Wednesday.
Provincial Hawks head Major General Thobeka Jozi lauded her team for the swift arrest the man who allegedly held four Zimbabwean nationals captives.
“The four victims, aged between 15 and 20, were allegedly kept under lock and key after they were smuggled into the country with false promises of good jobs and better lives in South Africa,” Hawks spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke said.
“It was also discovered that the four victims were allegedly forced to steal and forcibly work for the suspect without any payment whilst brutally assaulted if they do not comply with the suspect’s instructions.”
Raymond Sithole, 25, was arrested on Monday, and he briefly appeared in the Seshego Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, he said.
Sithole was remanded in custody pending further investigations and he is expected to appear in court on January 9.
“We warn those engaged in human trafficking that Limpopo will never be used as a getaway to exploit the innocent and vulnerable,” Jozi said.
“The operation should serve as a serious warning that we will do everything to protect victims of human trafficking and call upon our communities to work with us and report those engaged in this inhumane activity.”
– African News Agency (ANA)
