31 Aug 2016

A proxy prosecutor in a case in which two South African nationals are charged with promoting human trafficking has informed Gaborone Village Magistrate Court that they will embark on a trip to Ethiopia to boost their investigations and evidence in the case.

The accused in the case are Hanamantsi Lekena of Masacani Mega, Ramatlabama in South Africa, who works as a cleaner at Palms Hotel and Antoinette Relebohile Nthoba of Pimville Zone 5 in Soweto, South Africa who is a butchery operator. 

Addressing Village chief magistrate, Mr Mompati Taolo during status hearing of the case on Tuesday, Mr Farayi Mawhite from then Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said a strong team of investigators (him included) will depart for Addis Ababa on September 18, 2016 to find more on the case which involves human trafficking victims from that country.

He said upon their return on September 22, 2016 that is when the prosecution will form its stand on the case. 

He informed the court that Gaborone High Court has recently clarified that magistrate courts could prosecute cases involving the promotion of human trafficking, while cases dealing directly with the actual human trafficking fall within the ambit of the High Court.

Recently one of the prosecutors in the case, Ms Priscila Israel successfully prayed the court to postponed trial which was scheduled for August 22, 2016 so that High Court could give clarity on who should adjudicate over human trafficking cases and as such the current case was postponed.

According to the charge sheet, the two accused, Lekena and Nthoba on or about March 4, 2016 at Tlokweng Border acting together in concert promoted the trafficking of two females aged 20 and 23 years from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to Gaborone in transit to South Africa by providing recruitment materials, transportation and transfer facilities.  

The case was set down for another mention on September 13, while the two accused were further remanded in custody.

Attorney Mr Friday Leburu of Friday Leburu Attorneys represents Nthoba, while Lekena is self-represented.

In the meantime, the alleged human trafficking victims are said to be housed somewhere in Gaborone pending the finalisation of the trial. ENDS