In the biggest anti-human trafficking raid to have taken place in KwaZulu-Natal, 16 under-age girls were rescued from the notorious Point area this week.
A massive joint police operation saw officers from elite units, including the Hawks, Durban Organised Crime and SAPS Dog Unit, along with members of the Criminal Record Centre, Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, Asset Forfeiture Unit as well as the metro police, swoop on a bright orange building in Rochester Street. In the dying daylight on Thursday, “Operation Victim” swung into action and with sirens flashing, police vehicles blockaded the entrance. Officers flooded the building and within minutes, young girls were led out.
While many appeared obviously under age, even hardened police officers were shocked when a slight girl was brought out, obviously in the first months of pregnancy. It is suspected she is 12 years old.
Standing among the big crowd of Point residents who had gathered at the scene, was Pastor Rodney de Gee from Umgeni Community Empowerment Centre.
As De Gee watched the stream of girls being brought of the building, he was visibly moved. “Look at all these young girls coming out, this is plain human trafficking.”
De Gee said the girls would be taken to hospital for “detoxing” and then transported to safe houses.
“They will receive counselling and we will then start tracing where they come from and hopefully reunite them with their families.”
Durban Organised Crime Unit’s Warrant Officer CM Freese said drugs and alcohol had been confiscated.
Childline KZN director Linda Naidoo said they were “really, really thrilled” the girls had been rescued.
Three men and a woman appeared in Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges related to human trafficking, keeping a brothel and dealing in drugs.
The case was postponed to February 24. For further information on the rescued girls, Freese can be contacted at 072 366 8994.
- The Independent on Saturday