By Kaya 959 Reporter
An apostle and his alleged accomplice have appeared in court on charges of human trafficking, molestation, and forced labour.
Lonwabo Tede, 52, and Vuyolethu Namba, 37, appeared in the Zwelitsha Magistrates Court on Monday.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale says officers nabbed the suspects in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“Their arrests come following an investigation by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit which began last year.
“The unit was investigating a case of sexual abuse of vulnerable people, allegedly trafficked from different areas in the Eastern and Western Cape to Tede’s church,” Mogale says.
Thus far, seven victims, who are males and females, have come forward to lay charges.
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Suspects preyed on poverty-stricken women
These victims came through the church between 2005 and 2020. The pair’s case was postponed to 25 November to enable them to solicit representation and for further investigation.
Mogale says the suspects found sick and poverty-stricken women. They brought the women into the church mission house as if they will be assisted instead they were sexually assaulted.
Earlier this month, a Johannesburg court sentenced a 37-year-old man to five life terms for preying on women,
Nigerian national, Peter Akadoronge, was convicted of human trafficking, rape, and assault.
“In 2018, three women went looking for work when they were approached by three Nigerian men who offered them employment. One of the women suggested they go to a nearby club to speak about the offer,” NPA spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane says.
The men bought the women alcohol and the women soon lost consciousness. When they came to, they found themselves in a room with two other women. The room they were in had no windows and they were told they were in Rosettenville.
The men told the women they would be prostitutes. The victims told the court that the men also raped them.
“They further testified that they were raped as a way of teaching them their newly found job. After raping them, they were forced to take drugs on a daily basis whilst held captive. Different men were brought in to have sex with them,” the NPA says.
