Nine months after four South Africans were lured to a forced labour operation in South East Asia, Western Cape authorities have arrested the two people allegedly responsible for recruiting them.
The man and woman aged 51 and 44 were arrested in Kraaifontein on Saturday 20 February by the Hawks’ Western Cape Economic Protected Resources team in connection with a trafficking scheme that lured victims to Cambodia under false pretences.
The arrests stem from a May 2025 case where the victims were rescued after being recruited and promised work opportunities at a call centre in Thailand.
These jobs, TygerBurger has learned were extensively advertised on social media in 2025.
After their applications were successful, the victims were taken to Cambodia instead of Thailand upon arrival. Their passports were confiscated by traffickers and their freedom of movement was restricted, according to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani.
“The victims were employed in a call centre where they were instructed to make calls to targeted individuals, falsely claiming cases were opened against them and demanding payment to avoid arrest. They were forced to work long hours without payment,” says Hani.
“The victims launched a protest demanding their wages. Three had their passports returned, but a fourth victim could not retrieve hers. Through interventions by families and NGOs, arrangements were made for the victims to return home.”
Had to scam South Africans
One of the victims, a 19-year-old man now back in South Africa, alleged on social media that the suspected couple from Scottsville sold him for R10 000.
“I am young, I only finished matric. They lied to me saying I was going to work. If I knew I was going to have to scam people, even South Africans, I never would have gone,” he said in his post.
The investigation led to warrants of arrest being issued against the suspects. The duo is set to make their first appearance on Monday 23 February in the Bellville Magistrates’ Court.
Provincial head of the Hawks Major General Solomon Mathipa applauded the team and warned that traffickers often use social media and online platforms to target vulnerable individuals by promising legitimate job opportunities, only to confiscate documents and force victims into exploitation.
Authorities urged victims to come forward and report such cases as government departments work to dismantle trafficking networks and bring perpetrators to justice.
