GRASKOP – A 62-year-old businessman will become toothless behind bars as he had been sentenced to eight life sentences for trafficking young girls from Mozambique to the country.
The Graskop Regioal Court’s magistrate Mr Andries Lamprecht sentenced Nyambi Lloyed Mabuza. He was initially arrested on December 18, 2012, on allegations that he trafficked young girls aged 11 to 17 under false pretence that he was taking them to school in South Africa.
When they arrived in country, they were used as sex slaves and never set their feet at school. Members of the police were informed about this and their thorough investigations led to the arrest of Mabuza and his accomplice, a Mozambican woman, Violet Chauke (24), whom it is believed that she was used as a middle person.
On November 21 the court convicted Mabuza guilty of four counts of human trafficking for sexual purposes and four counts of rape while his accomplice was found guilty on three counts of human trafficking for sexual purposes and three counts of rape.
In passing judgement, the Magistrate Lamprecht sentenced Mabuza to four life sentences for the four counts of human trafficking for sexual purposes and four life sentences for four counts of rape.
Hi co-accused was sentenced to 20 years in prison which was wholly suspended for five years provided that she is not found guilty of related crimes and to be deported back to Mozambique, her country of origin.
The acting provincial commissioner Maj Gen Meshack Nogwanya applauded police for the sterling work which led to the arrest and prosecuting of the two.
“As police in Mpumalanga, we welcome the sentence and we believe that it will serve as a deterrent to other unscrupulous and ruthless criminals. We urge the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious tendencies regarding the treatment of people,” remarked Nogwanya.
He also congratulated the investigating officer, Lt Africa Nyathi, who worked tirelessly and managed to secure this conviction.
