Woman tells of role in finding alleged trafficking victims
A woman revealed how her involvement led to five girls being rescued after they were apparently kept captive for four years
GRASKOP – A woman revealed how her involvement led to five girls being rescued after they were apparently kept captive for four years. The woman, who could not be identified for safety reasons, testified in court on Thursday how she had spent time in Rhenosterhoek, Sabie, where five girls were apparently held captive as sex slaves by a prominent businessman.
Mr Lloyd Mabuza (60) and co-accused Ms Violet Chauke (20), appeared on charges of rape and human trafficking for sexual purposes in the Graskop Magistrate’s Court. The victims, aged from 10 to 16, were apparently lured to South Africa on the promise of attending school and having a better life.
The woman stated that her husband had worked for Mabuza and that was why she didn’t phone the police.
She said the girls were dressed in summer clothes in winter, were half-starved and unkempt and living in appalling conditions.
According to her, she had threatened Juliet Chauke (the sister of Violet, who is wanted by the Mozambican police due to two cases of child trafficking) with the police if she didn’t hand over the oldest girl to her.
She said Juliet relented and she took the girl to live with her. She admitted that the latter told her that Mabuza had raped all of them and she had not reported it to police.
She also admitted that she had made the girl clean her house but had also sent her to school. State prosecutor Ms Isabet Erwee said the girl being put in school, had led to the teachers and social workers contacting the police, resulting in the rescue of victims who were left at the compound.
Magistrate Mr Andries Lambrecht asked her if it had been her own daughter who had told her Mabuza had raped her, would she have gone to the police. She admitted she would have.
The trial was postponed to September 30.
