A South African father and son have been denied bail and are expected back in court later this month on human trafficking charges.
FATHER AND SON USED MOZAMBICAN CITIZENS IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Cornelis Johannes Wies, 60, and his son, Cornelis Johannes Albertus Wies, 23, were caught trafficking Mozambican nationals.
On 3 July 2022, the Uis were caught with 39 victims at their farm in Dallstrom, Mpumalanga.
The 39 victims were rescued in a multi-disciplinary operation by members of the Hawkes Serious Organized Crime Squad, the Department of Labor and the Home Office, based in Nelspruit.
They include seven women, nine children under the age of five and 23 men over the age of 18, Hawks spokeswoman Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said.
Wee returned to Belfast Magistrates’ Court on July 27 charged with human trafficking and contravening the Trafficking in Persons Act. However, the duo was denied bail.
“The case has been postponed to August 22, 2022 for further investigation. The traders remain in custody.”
Captain Dineo Sekgotodi
READ ALSO: Mozambican brothers, SA father and son behind HUMAN TRAFFICKING plot
DUO WORKED TOGETHER TWO MOZAMBICAN BROTHERS
But the Wyss did not work alone. They were in cahoots with two Mozambican brothers, 34-year-old Carlos Bernardo Guambe and 32-year-old Gabriel Bernardo Guambe.
During the rescue of 39 victims by the Hawks, the modus operandi was exposed.
The victims were recruited by brothers from Mozambique and taken to South Africa by taxi to look for work.
The victims had to illegally cross the border across the river into South Africa. A taxi will be waiting for them on the other side to take them to Lydenburg, Mpumalanga, Sekgotodi said.
“The son of the farm owner and one trader allegedly met with the taxi driver and paid him money in exchange for the victims who were taken to the farm for work.”
Captain Dineo Sekgotodi
The Mozambican brothers were found guilty and sentenced last month for violating the Immigration Act. They were sentenced to three months of arrest or a fine of 5,000 rubles each.
READ ALSO: Sjoe! 39 human trafficking victims RESCUED from ‘hard labour’ in Mpumalanga
