A donation drive was initiated to collect essentials for the 14 undocumented minor children who were found last week on a bus in Kimberley on its way to Cape Town.
On Tuesday, 5 December, the intervention of a vigilant passenger on this bus from Johannesburg and the swift response by members of the police in Kimberley led to the rescue of these 14 undocumented children aged six to 14 years. The eight boys and six girls were in the presence of two Zimbabwean nationals, a male and female, who were arrested and who already appeared in the Kimberley Magistrates’ Court on charges of human trafficking.
When found by the police, the children were dirty, had no luggage, and were hungry. The children were taken to places of safety in Kimberley.
The Northern Cape provincial head of Operational Response Services (ORS), Brig. Monica Sebili, initiated a donation drive to collect essential resources for the children.
Sebili, together with Leza Graaff, amongst other the founder of Destiny House, ORS members, as well as WO Shaniel Antonie of the Kimberley Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit, reached out to businesses and the community in the greater Kimberley to donate food and clothing for the children.
Grocery shops, churches, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), residents, and the mining community generously donated food, blankets, clothing, and toys for the children.
The Northern Cape provincial commissioner, Lt. Gen. Koliswa Otola, embraced the initiative and commended the police members who coordinated and contributed towards the heartfelt initiative.
She reiterated that human trafficking is deemed a priority crime and efforts will be reinforced to prevent and police these crimes, stated Col Cherelle Ehlers of the police media relations.
The two suspects, the 41-year-old female, Beulla Mandpdukudza Maruza, and the 46-year-old male, Tafadzwa Otis Nakakurwa, first appeared in court on 7 December, and will apply for bail on Thursday, 14 December.
