The Women’s Directorate in the Office of the Mayor responded to a call for assistance at a Bedfordview property following the discovery of two missing women.
Lindiwe Khonjelway, the divisional head for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, was one of the first on the scene.
She told the NEWS her team was called to the property after officers searching the property found four women in the house.
“My team and members of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigations (FCS) responded and found that the four women on the property were highly intoxicated,” she said.
Khonjelwayo said two of the women indicated to officials they were held on the property against their will.
“The women were linked to a missing persons case registered following their disappearance two weeks prior to officers finding them in Bedfordview.”
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She confirmed that her team, with the help of the FCS, would support the victims in opening cases against their perpetrators.
“If the women say they were held against their will that’s kidnapping and it’s a criminal offence.
“What we found in Bedfordview is a confirmation of abduction and kidnapping cases taking place,” she said.
Khonjelwayo added that investigations revealed a number of addresses linked to the Bedfordview property which needed to be investigated.
“This falls under conspiracy to commit human trafficking and we will assist in these investigations.”
She said human trafficking and abductions were a growing problem.
“This looks like a normal house in an upmarket area. What we found here was shocking.”
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Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za , and Lebogang Sekgwama lebogangs@caxton.co.za.
