Human trafficking victims rescued at a “guesthouse”/brothel in Benoni
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Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in Vaalrand working together with Sedibeng K9 unit, Vanderbijlpark Task Team have successfully managed to rescue human trafficking victims who were kept against their own will.
It is said according to police report that three victims aged 18, 23 & 33 were lured into a brothel displayed under a disguise of a guesthouse in Benoni on Thursday, December 30th.
The crime scene, brothel, was brought to the attention of the police after an 18 years old victim who was kept against her will for over three days alerted her family of her whereabouts, the family then in turn alerted the police.
She was allegedly visiting her relative in Vanderbijlpark at the time when she met the person who lured her to this brothel after keeping in contact having met on a dating site.
Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase said that her family started to be more worried after she failed to come back home.
“She was last seen at her relatives’ home on the 26 December and was unreachable. She later contacted her cousin and reportedly informed her that her phone was taken, she was kept against her will and forced to a life of sexual exploitation.”
“Two more victims from Sebokeng and Kwa-Zulu Natal province, were rescued along with the 18-year-old and were taken to a place of safety.”
“Subsequently two suspects aged 39 and 25 were arrested and are expected to appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 03 January 2022, for contravening the Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013 for the purpose of sexual exploitation” added Lt Col Nkwalase.
