SA: Zimbabwean ‘Ghost traveller’ in court for child trafficking

By Agencies

SA: THE ZIMBABWEAN national who was arrested in Kimberley on charges of human trafficking claimed that she was transporting 14 undocumented children from Harare to their parents who were living in Cape Town.

The accused, Beulla Mandpdukudza Maruza, 41, appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court this week, where her bail application was postponed until January 15.

Her co-accused, Tafadzwa Otis Nakakurwa, 46, was charged with being an illegal immigrant and was released on bail of R5,000 last month.

The duo were arrested at the Engen garage in Oliver Road on December 5, 2023, at around 1am, when the bus they were travelling in stopped over in Kimberley.

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They were en route from Midrand to Cape Town when a passenger noticed that the children, who are between the ages of six and 14, appeared to be subdued and dirty and were not carrying any luggage with them.

The investigating officer in the matter, Detective Warrant Officer Charlotte Mokgari, advised the court on January 9 that although Maruza had a valid passport and was in the country legally, she was a flight risk.

“If she fails to attend her trial, the case may have to be scrapped from the roll if she cannot be extradited from Zimbabwe,” said Mokgari.

She indicated that Maruza had been “ghost travelling” over the South African and Zimbabwean borders without being traced on the Department of Home Affairs’ system or her passport being stamped.

“Her movements are suspicious. She came to South Africa on December 4, 2023, from Harare with the children, where she appeared to have jumped the border or used another passport. She has never stayed for more than 30 days in the same country and has travelled in and out of the country between April 2022 and now.”

Mokgari added that Maruza had indicated that she had crossed over Beitbridge after boarding a bus from Harare on December 4.

“The accused travelled with four other transporters. Fourteen children cannot fit into a taxi. In her statement, she stated that she paid R1 000 to cross the border.”

Mokgari indicated that Maruza had purchased R1 600 worth of petrol for the taxi that transported the children from Musina to Johannesburg to “help” the driver.

“The petrol slip showed that she swiped her card at 3.05am. The children said the taxi had stopped in a secluded place and that they had to cross the crocodile infested river at night.”

She added that the children were intelligent and statements were taken from those who were proficient in English.

“We are in the process of handing them back to the authorities in Zimbabwe so that they can be reunited with their families.

“At the time of her arrest, the accused informed us that she was unemployed. I do not believe her claims that she was running a business where she made use of a courier service to deliver clothes.”

Mokgari added that some of the parents had responded to an advert on Facebook where they paid the accused to transport their children from Harare.

“One of the children knew the accused as it was not the first time that he had travelled with her from Zimbabwe to Cape Town, while not all of the parents knew her identity.”

She stated that the children were afraid of the accused.

“I am concerned over their safety. If she remains in custody she will not be able to talk to their parents, influence the children or intimidate witnesses.”

The legal representative for the accused, advocate Lerumo, claimed that his client was placed under duress to make a confession.

“She was uncomfortable about making a statement without an interpreter. The parents of the children should have been brought in to identify the accused as they had given her permission to accompany the children to South Africa,” said Lerumo.

He added that Maruza had been residing in South Africa for more than two years, while she had family members who were also living in the country.

“She is the breadwinner for her children. My client cannot be denied bail simply because she comes from Zimbabwe.”

Lerumo pointed out that the children spoke Shona and that the police should have enlisted the services of an interpreter before interviewing them.

“They are being cared for by social workers at a place of safety in South Africa. There is no evidence that they were placed in any danger or were at risk of being sold. My client is a first offender and has no outstanding warrants or pending cases. She handed over her passport and has co-operated with the investigation.”

The case is being heard before Magistrate Mongala and the State prosecutor is Buntu Dwenga.