The South African Police Service(SAPS) has announced that the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation(HAWKS) arrested two Zimbabwean nationals for human trafficking in Northern Cape.
According to SAPS,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 has confirmed that received a tip-off from someone who was on that bus about a group of kids who were traveling from Gauteng to Western Cape and then law enforcement agencies acted on that information.
"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 led by Department of Social Development was contacted to assist with placing the kids at a place of safety and providing food,"police statement said.
The leadership of the South African Police Service has praised everyone who have been involved on intercepting the trafficking of innocent kids.
"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 led to the police's timely intervention,"police statement concluded.
In another incident,few days ago the Border Management Authority(BMA) at Beitbridge Port of Entry managed to interrupt the trafficking of more than 400 Zimbabwean children who were heading to South Africa without their parents and arrested 150 undocumented adults.