SA TEENAGE GIRL TRAFFICKED INTO ESWATINI FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

SITEKI – A teenage girl from South Africa has been rescued by local police officers after she was smuggled into the country, reportedly for sexual exploitation.

The 19-year-old survivor, who hails from the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, was reportedly ‘recruited’ while loitering at a beach in the city of Durban.

According to court papers, the teenage girl, who is also a college student, was then transported from Durban into Eswatini through the Lavumisa Border Gate.
“...the said accused did unlawfully arrange or assist in (the survivor’s name) illegal entry knowing of the fact that the Kingdom of Eswatini (is) a country where the said (survivor) is not a citizen. (And) in order to obtain material benefit (or) an advantage of having sexual intercourse with the said (survivor),” reads in part the court papers.

Sources close to police investigators revealed that Siphofaneni police were tipped off by concerned community members, who became suspicious after spotting the teenager in flip-flops on a very cold day.

The alleged perpetrator was then arrested and charged with two counts of contravening the People Trafficking and People Smuggling (Prohibition) Act No:7/2009 and one count of allegedly contravening the newly promulgated Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act No: 15/2018.
He has been identified in court papers as Thulani Simelane (38) of Phuzamoya near Siphofaneni.
In the first count, it is alleged that Simelane ‘did unlawfully recruit and transport’ the survivor from Durban, South Africa into Eswatini for ‘the purpose of sexual exploitation’.

“...Accused wanted to have sexual intercourse with the said (survivor), abusing her as she is in the position of vulnerability by virtue of being orphaned,” reads court papers.
In the second count, the accused is charged with allegedly assisting the survivor to enter the country.
And in the third count, the accused has been charged with allegedly having sexual intercourse with the survivor.

“...by psychological oppression (the accused) did have unlawful sexual intercourse with (the survivor) as he knew that she was orphaned and would not provide the necessities he had promised to offer her,” states the charge sheet.

Sitting

Simelane (suspect) appeared before Lubombo Principal Magistrate Dumisani Magagula, who was sitting at the Siteki Magistrates Court.
He informed the court that he would engage the services of an attorney when he was informed of his right to legal representation.
Prosecutors applied for the matter to be postponed so they could prepare their case and the magistrate granted the application and postponed the matter.
“Accused is remanded pending setting of trial date in the presence of his attorney,” stated the magistrate.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: