Zimbabwean man gets two life terms for trafficking girl, 12, to SA
The victim testified through a Shona intermediary after community members raised concerns about the girl living with Chauke as his wife.
A Zimbabwean man, David Chauke, has been sentenced to two life terms for the rape, trafficking, and sexual exploitation of a 12-year-old girl in South Africa. Chauke was found guilty of abducting, trafficking, raping, and sexually exploiting the minor after bringing her from Zimbabwe to South Africa under false pretenses. The Worcester Regional Court handed him sentences of five years for abduction, life for trafficking, life for rape, 15 years for sexual exploitation, and 12 months for immigration violations.
The victim was isolated from her family and forced to lie about her age after arriving in South Africa. Community members raised concerns about her living situation with Chauke, leading to his arrest in November 2020. During the trial, Chauke admitted to manipulating the victim into believing he loved her and wished to marry her, but denied the sexual abuse charges.
Prosecutors argued that Chauke intentionally exploited the victim's vulnerability and subjected her to severe emotional and psychological trauma. The court convicted Chauke on multiple charges and ordered his name to be entered into the National Registers for Sex Offenders and Child Protection. The Western Cape's Anti-Trafficking Task Teams expressed their commitment to combating trafficking and protecting vulnerable victims.
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