A 41-year-old woman is set to appear in the Kimberley Magistrate's Court on Monday (15/01) on charges of human trafficking.

The accused claimed she was transporting 14 undocumented children from Harare to their parents who were living in Cape Town on Tuesday 5 December 2023.

Beulla Maruza and her co-accused Tafadzwa Nakakurwa (46) were arrested on Tuesday 5 December after their bus stopped at the Engen garage in Oliver Road in Kimberley in the early hours of the morning.

Maruza appeared in court on Tuesday (9/1) for a bail application which was postponed to Monday (15/1). Her co-accused was released on bail of R5 000 in December and faces charges of being an illegal immigrant.

‘She claimed she was transporting the children to their parents‘

“Maruza had a valid passport and was in the country legally, yet 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 investigating officer, Charlotte Mokgari.

OFM News reported that a passenger on the bus noticed that the children, who range in age from six to 14, did not have any luggage and appeared scared and dirty. 

The passenger then alerted a family member in Kimberley to call the police.

They showed up at the garage dressed in plain clothes. A search was then conducted on the bus.

‘The children were kidnapped and did not even know each other’

The children were kidnapped and did not even know each other. They will soon be reunited with their families and are currently at a place of safety in Kimberley.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame