Adam Vusi Sithole appeared on charges of human trafficking, amongst others, and his case was postponed to August 3 for formal bail application.

The Hawks provincial spokesperson, Nomthandoza Mnisi, told OFM News that Sithole was arrested on Wednesday by members of Hawks serious organised crime, following a tip-off. She said according to information, Sithole had allegedly kidnapped a 26-year-old woman from Pietermaritzburg and took her to the Northern Cape in June 2020. Mnisi said the woman was allegedly locked up at a house, raped and repeatedly assaulted by the perpetrator.

Sithole was arrested following a joint disruptive operation by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime and members of the police in Kimberley. He is at least the second suspect to be arrested in the Northern Cape on these charges.

In April 2020, a 33-year-old was also arrested for a similar offence. He was alleged to have trafficked a 22-year-old woman from Gauteng to Prieska in the Northern Cape on March 16. The suspect allegedly recruited the woman under false pretences. He was also alleged to have raped and assaulted the woman several times at his house.

Recently social media has been abuzz with missing person reports involving young women. Some of these women have been founded murdered while others have been found safe and well. This comes at a time when the scourge of killing of women and children in the country also regained traction during the lockdown.  

Recently, police minister Bheki Cele announced that that police stations across the country have received thousands of gender-based violence (GBV) reports.

This has also forced President Cyril Ramaphosa's government to reprioritise millions of rands towards the fight against violence against women and children. The government's efforts include working with civil society movements, many of which are non-profit organisations, and the training of police officers.

OFM News