A Zimbabwean national who was arrested on charges of human trafficking was denied bail in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
ZIMBABWEAN national Beulla Maruza, 41, who was arrested on charges of human trafficking, was denied bail in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Maruza and her co-accused, Tafadzwa Otis Madakurwa, were arrested at the Engen garage in Oliver Road on December 6 during a multi-disciplinary operation, after they were seen boarding a bus with 14 undocumented children between the age of six and 14, during a stopover in Kimberley.
Hawks Northern Cape provincial spokesperson Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi said a vigilant passenger, who was travelling from Midrand in Johannesburg en route to Cape Town, alerted an off-duty police officer about the eight boys and six girls.
“The suspects claimed to be taking the kids to their parents in Cape Town, information which the police could not verify, leading to the arrests,” said Mnisi.
“Upon inspection, the children appeared to be dirty, were without any additional clothes or bags and looked hungry.
“The provincial Trafficking in Persons rapid response team, led by the Department of Social Development, was contacted to assist with placing the kids at a place of safety and providing them with food.”
Mnisi said Madakurwa would reappear in court on February 12.
