A 28-year-old woman is facing charges of human trafficking after eight undocumented women and girls from Lesotho were found in her backroom.
The woman, whose name is known to SurgeZirc SA but will not be published until she has pleaded, appeared before the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
According to a media statement from the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks), the incident unfolded when a police officer, a constable, was informed by members of the community about a backroom at a nearby house where foreign nationals were being kept.
Upon investigation, the officer discovered eight females of different ages who revealed that they had been brought from Lesotho to Palm Ridge.
Investigations revealed that the suspect, who ran an employment agency, advertised her services on the Internet. The victims explained that they had each paid an amount of R5,000 for employment in South Africa. They were all living in a single rented room for the past 10 days.
When the accused was called to the scene, she failed to produce documents proving she was a legal labour broker. Additionally, she was found in possession of 20 Lesotho passports, which she could not explain. The suspect was subsequently arrested, and the matter was postponed for legal aid.
The women and girls were taken to a place of safety after undergoing medical assessments.
This incident comes just a week after 13 Ethiopians were found being held against their will at a suburban house in Parkhurst, north of Johannesburg.
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The captives, who managed to escape, were found malnourished and injured. The property owner, who has resided there for over 80 years, was shocked to discover what he described as a “prison” within his family home.
The cases of human trafficking highlight the ongoing issue of exploitation and abuse faced by vulnerable individuals. Authorities must continue to prioritise efforts to combat human trafficking and protect those at risk.
