The NPA welcomed the decision as a strong stance against child exploitation and cross-border crime.
Three Zimbabwean nationals have been sentenced to four life terms each in a 2022 human trafficking case.
The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg found Hilda Tenega, Sthembiso Mlouzi and Kumburai Andrew Massimo guilty of a number of counts, including human traffickingFraud, possession of false documents and violation of the Immigration Act.
Investigation reveals cross-border smuggling scheme
The matter came to light when Tenega was stopped at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, where he was found attempting to travel with three children using fake documents.
The investigation, led by Warrant Officer Claas Ranthakagoa, revealed that Tenega had used false documents as part of a scheme to smuggle children from South Africa to Ireland.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Mlouzi and Massimo.
The couple had allegedly presented themselves as family members of the children to facilitate their illegal movement across international borders.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson Mgaboke Mohlatlole said that although the accused were initially granted bail following their arrest, the case was later transferred to the office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, where senior state counsel Makwena Mokwatedi successfully applied for bail to be cancelled.
“The accused remains in custody pending the completion of the trial,” Mohlatlole said in a statement on Thursday.
Prosecutors shed light on exploitation of vulnerable children
During sentencing proceedings, Mokwatedi submitted that the accused had taken advantage of the extreme vulnerability of the children, who were orphans, and abused their status as foreign nationals resident in South Africa.
The court sentenced each of the accused to four life terms for trafficking in persons.
Additionally, each accused received 12 years' imprisonment for fraud, 15 years' imprisonment for possessing fake documents and two years' imprisonment for fraud. Violation of Immigration Act.
Acting Judge Thembi Bokako ordered that the sentences in the remaining cases would run concurrently with the life sentences.
“The NPA welcomes this sentence as a strong confirmation of South Africa's commitment to combating human trafficking and protecting vulnerable children from exploitation,” Mohlatole said.
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