A 40-year-old suspect is expected to appear before the Bethal Magistrate Court today, Monday 16 May 2022, after he was arrested by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation based in Secunda on Saturday, 14 May 2022 in Bethal farm for Trafficking in person.
A tip-off about young and undocumented Mozambicans who were kept on a farm around Bethal was received by the Hawks. The team promptly responded to the information and on arrival at the farm, they found six undocumented Mozambicans who complained to the police that they were recruited from Mozambique and were promised that someone in South Africa have a job for them.
The victims alleged that they traveled from Mozambique on 05 May 2022, with a blue bakkie and, before they reach the border gate from Mozambique’s side, the driver stopped and told them to go and pass through the river while he pass through the border post. The victims did as they were instructed and met with the driver on the other side of the border in South Africa.
He took them to Bethal on a farm where they were handed over to the suspect. The victims further told the police that the driver of the bakkie was paid R800-00 for each victim by the recruiter in Mozambique.
The victims further alleged that on arrival at the suspect`s place, they were instructed to cut the grass and during the night the suspect took them with a bakkie to steal coal from the nearby mines and he would only pay them R100-00 after stealing the coal and never paid them for other jobs.
The Provincial Head for the Directorate For Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Zodwa Mokoena applauded the team for the swift response to arrest the suspect and rescue the victims, who are kept in a safe place while the investigation continues. She further commended the public for reporting the wrongful activities in their respective communities.