Nigerian woman accused of human trafficking appears in court in Cape Town; Bail application is scheduled for October 10

The woman arrested in Cape Town for human trafficking appeared in the Kuilsriver Magistrate’s court on Friday.

Gift Ekause, 29, from Nigeria has been formally charged with human trafficking and violation of immigration law.

This follows Ekause’s arrest by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks) on Wednesday, October 2 in Kraaifontein.

Hawks provincial spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani said a multi-disciplinary team comprising the Hawks’ Economic Protected Resources team in the Western Cape, along with law enforcement and the City of Cape Town’s Department of Home Affairs and Immigration in Bellville performed the operation.

This comes after a human trafficking victim was rescued from Nigeria earlier this year.

“The suspect was arrested at a house in Kraaifontein, where four possible victims were rescued. Her arrest stems from a follow-up investigation that started earlier this year, during which it was discovered that the suspect trafficked a victim from Nigeria for sexual exploitation.

“Preliminary investigations and interviews by social workers have revealed that the four possible victims are not victims of human trafficking, but are staying illegally in South Africa,” Hani said.

The four people who were rescued were then immediately arrested and charged with violating immigration law.

Ekause appeared briefly in court.

The case has been postponed until October 10, 2024 due to a formal bail application.

She remains in custody.

The four other suspects are expected to appear in court.

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