Two suspects aged 32 were arrested on 24 June 2022 and 39 victims including seven women, nine children under the age of five and 23 males all over the age of 18 were rescued from a farm in Belfast during a multi-disciplinary operation by members of Nelspruit Serious Organised Crime, Flying Squad, Department of Labour and Home Affairs.
It is alleged that the 39 victims were traffic from Mozambique and they were brought in South Africa to be farm workers.
According to Colonel Katlego Mogale, through information gathered at the scene it was established that the modus operandi entails the victims being brought into South Africa in a taxi from Mozambique until Lydenburg where allegedly the son of the farm owner and one trafficker will meet the taxi driver then pay. The victims will then be brought on the farm for labour.
“The rescued victims will be kept at a place of safety in Witbank. The two suspects will appear in Belfast Magistrate’s Court this morning on charges of trafficking in persons,” said Colonel Katlego Mogale
The investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected.