Mokhotlong woman charged with human trafficking

A 49-year-old woman has appeared in the Mokhotlong Magistrate’s Court charged with human trafficking.

‘Mathabelang Qahana was granted bail of M1,500 with a surety of M10,000 on January 6 after she was arrested in Phatlalla, Mokhotlong, the same day after being on the run in South Africa since 2018.

She was further remanded to the Correctional Services Department and is due back in court on January 22 this month.

According to Woman Police Constable (W/P/C) ‘Mapaballo Tsietsi of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit in Tlokoeng, Mokhotlong, the police received a report from the Caledonspoort Border Post in Botha-Bothe in June 2018.

The report involved a 16-year-old girl from Mapholaneng who had just arrived from South Africa without any documents.

The teenager appeared ill and claimed to have been forced into prostitution in the neighbouring country since 2017.

W/P/C Tsietsi explained that investigations revealed that Qahana, who is aunt to the victim, had lured the girl with promises of employment in South Africa.

Qahana has assured the victim that she would be accompanied by her daughter who was already working there.

Upon arrival, the victim was forced into a marriage with a man for the purpose of sexual exploitation, with Qahana and her daughter gaining profit from the arrangement.

In 2018, when the victim fell ill and could no longer work, Qahana sent her back to Lesotho. A report was then made to the police.