Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
A 36-year-old man from Chipinge has been arrested for trafficking a 15-year-old girl to South Africa to meet her supposed husband in Thohoyandou, Limpopo province.
Solomon Khoza, who also trafficked two boys aged nine and 12, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Beitbridge regional magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa on Thursday.
He was charged with contravening the Trafficking in Persons Act and the Immigration Act.
Khoza is accused of smuggling the teenager into the neighbouring country early this month through an illegal crossing point near Tshikwalakwala, along the Limpopo River.
State prosecutor Mr Willbrought Muleya said sometime in October, Khoza was tasked by the girl’s boyfriend to transport her from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
The man wanted to marry her in South Africa.
On November 3 at around 2 am, Khoza illegally smuggled the juvenile into South Africa.
He was remanded in custody until December 9 for trial.
After crossing illegally, Khoza and the teenager ran into trouble when they were intercepted by the police while travelling to Thohoyandou for failing to produce valid travel documents.
Following their arrest, they were taken to Mutale police station and detained and were both deported to Zimbabwe by road on November 20.
Khoza was arrested upon arrival in Zimbabwe at the Government run Reception and Support centre during a security vetting.
The trafficking victim was taken to the department of social development for further assistance.
Further investigations revealed that Khoza had also smuggled two other children aged nine and 12 years from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
The two boys have since been taken to a place of safety by the police.
Tinaye Agere