Four women who were found guilty on charges of human trafficking were sentenced in the Queenstown Regional Court in Komani on Friday.
A spokesperson for the Hawks Captain Anelisa Ngcakani says the 24-year-old Xolelwa Garhishe, 24-year-old Yolanda Klaas, the 23-year-old Nwabisa Kaziwa and the 23-year-old Zintle Tom each received a 12-year prison sentence for trafficking persons as well as another 12 years for sexually exploiting a child.
The 5th accused in the case, 38-year-old Harun Mohammed was sentenced to life in prison for rape.
Ngckani says in October 2016 the accused kidnapped a 12-year-old girl from Whittlesea and used her as a sex slave for approximately a month.
The women handed the child over to Mohammed in exchange for R100.
She says the trafficking in Persons wing of the Hawks received information on the plight of the girl and immediately launched an investigation which led to the arrests.
All the accused were arrested in Whittlesea.
The women's' sentences will not run concurrently which mean that they will spend an effective 24 years in prison.
