A 49-year-old Bangladeshi national has appeared before the Welkom Magistrates’ Court for alleged human trafficking.
“The court appearance comes after the suspect was traced and identified in Welkom before being apprehended by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit based in Welkom on 11 April,” says WO Fikiswa Matoti, spokesperson for the Hawks.
A case docket was registered on 23 May after five women came forward and reported that they were married to unknown Bangladeshi men. The victims were misled and given R500 each per month after assisting these men in getting permits to stay in South Africa. They were never told that the money was for arranged marriages.
On 23 May, police followed up information given by the victims and managed to arrest a 31-year-old female recruiter. She made a few court appearances until November 2023 when her matter was provisionally removed from the court roll.
Police investigations are continuing.
