Human trafficking trial: Mother wants another shot at bail, advocate withdraws

The 39-year-old mother facing human trafficking-related charges plans to apply for bail again, while the mandate of the attorney for her co-accused, Carel Schoeman (36), has been terminated.

This transpired when the pair again appeared in a high court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on January 20.

The mother stands accused of selling the sexual services of her minor daughters (aged 13 and 11 at the time) and Schoeman of buying the 13-year-old.

Schoeman faces 26 charges, the mother 72, and they pleaded not guilty to all at a court sitting last year.

The charges include rape, sexual abuse of a minor, child trafficking and the pointing of a firearm.

The offences allegedly took place in Boksburg, Heidelberg, Brakpan, Springs (Ekurhuleni), Villiers (Free State) and Amanzimtoti and Ramsgate (KwaZulu-Natal) between mid-2022 and early 2023.

In his plea explanation, Schoeman said he thought the girl was 19.

Midway through the trail, the mother’s attorney, Harold Davids, said he would bring a bail application to the High Court ‘based on new facts’.

Her bail application was denied at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court in 2023.

Since the trial started, the court has heard testimonies from several witnesses, including guest house owners, the woman’s mother and Captain Veronica Banks of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit.

The court also heard that Schoeman’s advocate, Deon Pool’s mandate, had been terminated.

Pool said there was a conflict of interest. His instructing attorney, Raymond Easts, laid a complaint against him with the Legal Practice Council.

Easts explained to the court that the advocate agreed on an all-inclusive fee.

Judge Rean Strydom pointed out it was a matter between them.

Meanwhile, Schoeman told the court he would appoint a new advocate.

Easts told the court Schoeman would now have to generate an income and asked for his client’s bail conditions to be relaxed.

Part of Schoeman’s bail conditions is that he has to give the investigating officer 48-hour notice if he wants to leave Gauteng. He must also report to the Heidelberg police station every Saturday.

Strydom ruled Schoeman now has to give two hours of notice, as opposed to the original bail condition and that he can inform the investigating officer, who must be aware he is out of the province, 12 hours prior should he not be able to report to the police station.

The matter resumes on February 20.

Also Read: Mother accused of exploiting her children denies charges against her