Bail application postponed
The bail application for a second woman who was arrested in connection with the human trafficking of two young Nigerian women, was postponed in the George Magistrate's Court last Thursday, 18 April, after the accused appointed a new legal representative.
The victims were rescued from an apartment in George last year after they were allegedly smuggled into the country in a shipping container.
According to a spokesperson for the Hawks, Lt Col Siyabulela Vukubi, the second suspect, a 33-year-old woman, was arrested in Strand, Cape Town on Thursday 14 March.
She was found to be in possession of two passports, various bank cards and R29 000 in cash.
The first suspect, a 34-yearold woman from George, was
arrested in December last year on charges of human trafficking and sexual offences. She was denied bail on 9 February.
If found guilty, the accused could face life imprisonment and/or a fine of R100m.
The Hawks found the two Nigerian women, both aged 21, as well as two self-confessed sex workers from Zimbabwe and South Africa, in the 34-yearold's apartment in the George CBD, which she was allegedly running as a brothel.
The young women were allegedly lured to South Africa with promises of a career in the beauty industry and allegedly given fake passports and documentation in Nigeria in order for them to travel to South Africa.
Their passports were however allegedly confiscated the moment arrived and they were forced to become sex workers.
Both accused will make their next court appearance on Thursday 2 May.