Two alleged human trafficking victims return to SA from Malawi
The two girls were deprived of food and prevented from attending school.
Two girls, aged nine and 15, have returned to South Africa from Malawi after being allegedly victims of human trafficking, according to the Department of Social Development. The girls were reportedly taken by a couple, consisting of a Malawian man and a woman from the Eastern Cape, leading to a traumatic ordeal.
The girls' mother and grandmother escaped from Malawi and returned to South Africa to report the crime to the police. Upon their arrival, the girls were found and rescued at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park on Thursday.
Minister of Social Development, Dina Pule, stated that the girls were deprived of food and prohibited from attending school during their time in the custody of the accused couple. The minister further explained that the Malawian man initially befriended the children's mother, exploiting the situation to gain their trust and ultimately leading to the loss of everything they had.
The man allegedly promised financial assistance to the girls, which prompted their transfer to Malawi. The girls' family has not yet been formally arrested, as the police continue their relentless efforts to track down and apprehend those responsible for the alleged human trafficking.
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