Esenembe father arrested for alleged trafficking following daughter’s false kidnapping claim

The father of a 14-year-old Esenembe girl reported missing has been arrested for allegedly trafficking his daughter.

Police discovered that the reported kidnapping was invented by the girl’s father.

He is facing a litany of charges, including human trafficking, defeating the administration of justice, perjury, and offenses under the Finance Act for the misuse of state resources.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said the man was arrested by the Umhlali Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit on Monday.

He said after the girl was reported missing the previous Monday, police sent a search and rescue team to find her. The girl was found walking alongside a 23-year-old undocumented foreign national along Jabu Ngcobo Drive in Verulam last Friday.

Further investigation revealed the father had knowingly filed a false report with the police regarding his daughter’s disappearance. Contrary to initial reports, it was determined that the girl had left voluntarily with the foreign national, and the father was fully aware of her whereabouts.

Police said from their investigation it also emerged the father was complicit in releasing his daughter to the foreigner in December, with no report filed.

“The father will appear at the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court today (Wednesday), while the 23-year-old foreigner has been charged with statutory rape as well as being in the country illegally,” said Netshiunda.

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