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3 Zimbabweans handed multiple life sentences in South Africa
10 hrs ago |
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The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has sentenced three Zimbabwean nationals to four life terms each for their roles in a 2022 human trafficking case involving orphaned children.
The convicted trio - Hilda Tenega, Sthembiso Mlauzi and Kumburai Andrew Masimo - were found guilty on multiple charges, including human trafficking, fraud, possession of fraudulent documents and violations of immigration laws.
The case began when Tenega was intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport while attempting to leave the country with three children using falsified travel documents.
Investigations led by Warrant Officer Claas Ranthakgoa uncovered a broader trafficking scheme in which Tenega allegedly planned to move the children out of South Africa to Ireland.
Further inquiries resulted in the arrests of Mlauzi and Masimo, who were found to have posed as relatives of the children to facilitate their illegal cross-border movement.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole, the accused were initially granted bail but were later remanded in custody after the matter was escalated to the National Director of Public Prosecutions. Senior state advocate Makwena Mokwatedi successfully applied for the cancellation of their bail.
"The accused remained in custody until the finalisation of the trial," Mohlatlole said.
During sentencing, the State argued that the trio had deliberately exploited the extreme vulnerability of the children, who were orphans, and took advantage of their status as foreign nationals living in South Africa.
Presiding over the matter, Acting Judge Thembi Bokako imposed four life sentences on each of the accused for trafficking in persons. Additional sentences included 12 years for fraud, 15 years for possession of fraudulent documents and two years for contravening immigration laws.
However, the court ordered that the additional sentences run concurrently with the life terms.
The NPA welcomed the ruling, describing it as a strong statement of South Africa's resolve to combat human trafficking and safeguard vulnerable children from exploitation.
The convicted trio - Hilda Tenega, Sthembiso Mlauzi and Kumburai Andrew Masimo - were found guilty on multiple charges, including human trafficking, fraud, possession of fraudulent documents and violations of immigration laws.
The case began when Tenega was intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport while attempting to leave the country with three children using falsified travel documents.
Investigations led by Warrant Officer Claas Ranthakgoa uncovered a broader trafficking scheme in which Tenega allegedly planned to move the children out of South Africa to Ireland.
Further inquiries resulted in the arrests of Mlauzi and Masimo, who were found to have posed as relatives of the children to facilitate their illegal cross-border movement.
"The accused remained in custody until the finalisation of the trial," Mohlatlole said.
During sentencing, the State argued that the trio had deliberately exploited the extreme vulnerability of the children, who were orphans, and took advantage of their status as foreign nationals living in South Africa.
Presiding over the matter, Acting Judge Thembi Bokako imposed four life sentences on each of the accused for trafficking in persons. Additional sentences included 12 years for fraud, 15 years for possession of fraudulent documents and two years for contravening immigration laws.
However, the court ordered that the additional sentences run concurrently with the life terms.
The NPA welcomed the ruling, describing it as a strong statement of South Africa's resolve to combat human trafficking and safeguard vulnerable children from exploitation.
Source - The Citizen
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