82 trafficked Malawians intercepted in SA: three suspected traffickers arrested

Eighty two Malawians including an 11 year old boy have been intercepted in Rustenburg, South Africa, in what is believed to be a human trafficking case.

Malawi’s Consular General Fraser Nihorya has confirmed of the development in an interview with the press.

According to Nihorya, 57 of the total are aged 21 and are being kept at a place of safety within Rustenburg.

“Yes there are 82 Malawians intercepted as they were being trafficked to undisclosed destination within South Africa and 57 of them are in Rustenburg and there are 19 women. Their ages range from 11yrs to 21 years and are from Chilipa in Mangochi.

“Three people have been arrested as suspects of a human trafficking syndicate. A case has been opened and their repatriation back to Malawi is dependent on the completion of the case and investigations by authorities in South Africa,” he said.

Nihorya added: “Most of them were promised jobs and some women were attempting to reunite with their husbands who left Malawi long time ago. We are working closely with authorities to unearth this traficking syndicate.”

Enca reports the three suspects, “appeared briefly at the Rustenburg regional magistrate’s court on Tuesday – their case has been postponed to 13 September – facing 57 counts of human trafficking.”

It further states that the group was travelling in a delivery van before being intercepted by police today morning.