Two people between 30 and 31 years old were recently convicted at the Randburg Magistrates’ Court for human trafficking and kidnapping.
According to Captain Makgowanyana Maja of the Randburg Police Station, the complainant received a message from his partner informing him that she had been kept against her will on 3 March last year at about 3.15pm. “The complainant then notified the police whereby her location was tracked as she did not know her whereabouts in Randburg. It was established that the victim was locked at premises on Fern Street in Ferndale.”
Maja said the police pounced on the unsuspecting kidnappers and rescued the victim as well as others as she said that she was not the only one kept and fed with drugs. The victims were rescued and two kidnappers were arrested. The matter was assigned to Detective Constable Helen Tshivhula for further investigation.
The matter was brought to court and the duo was sentenced as follows:
Accused one:
- Found guilty on Count 4 and fined R2 400 or 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for five years (on the condition not to contravene any section of the refugee act during the period of suspension)
- Found guilty on Count 5 and fined R4 800 or two years’ imprisonment, half of which is suspended for five years.
Accused two:
- Found guilty on Count 6 and fined R4 800 or two years’ imprisonment, half of which is suspended
- Found guilty on Count 7 and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment of which two years is suspended for five years and declared a prohibited person.
Maja concluded that the management of the station welcomed the verdict and would like to extend their gratitude to all members involved for their patience, dedication and persistence in finding the location of and rescuing the captives.
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