Nontobeko Mathunjwa, who faces human trafficking-related charges, will return to court early next year.
This is after The Hawks in George acted on intel they received on Wednesday, 13 December 2023. The 34-year-old Mathunjwa is said to be involved in trafficking young women from West Africa. The women are believed to have arrived at a port in South Africa a few months ago.
Based on the intel The Hawks received, the young woman arrived inside a shipping container.
“They were allegedly given fake passports. Information was that the girls were advertised on an escort website and were kept in a residential complex in George.” – Siyabulela Vukubi, The Hawks
Several days later, on Saturday, 16 December 2023, teams operationalised this information and led a search of a premises – where the accused was staying.
In their search, four women between the ages of 21 and 27 were found there. They have since been “rescued” and have undergone medical assessments. The Hawks’ Siyabulela Vukubi says Mathunjwa was subsequently arrested.
“The suspect, who is allegedly the caretaker on the premises, was arrested on charges of contravention of Section 4(1) and Section 7 of the Prevention and Combatting of the Trafficking in Persons Act, Act 7 of 2013.”
The accused made her first appearance in the George Magistrates Court on Monday, 18 December. She will remain in custody until her next court appearance on 22 January 2024.
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