The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, has arrested the mother of newborn twins along with two others for human trafficking, in Gqeberha on Thursday, 3 June 2021.

According to the Hawks, the woman had sold her five-day-old twin girls to a buyer in Uitenhage.

Hawks spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said the trio was handcuffed during a joint operation by the Gqeberha Serious Organised Crime Investigation team of the Hawks, Uitenhage Crime Intelligence Gathering (CIG), and members of the Uitenhage South African Police Service (SAPS).

Mgolodela said they had acted on a tip-off and at the time the mother had already completed the “transaction”.

“The joint team of law enforcers followed the lead to a house in Uitenhage where the alleged prospective buyer was arrested and the babies rescued. Another arrest was effected on the mother of the twins and another suspect, which brought the number of the arrestees to three,” said Mgolodela.

In addition to trafficking the twin girls, it also appears that the Gqeberha woman hadn’t taken care of them, including providing them with food.

The Hawks claim when they were rescued in the operation, they had to be attended to medically.

The Hawks in Gqeberha further allege that the prospective buyer was expected to pay at least R50 (K2,926) a day to the mother of the twin girls in order for her to satisfy her drug addiction.

Added onto that, it has also been alleged that the buyer had intended to apply for a monthly grant for the children at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), a portion of which would be paid to the mother.

The matter is still under investigation and the accused will be formally charged when they appear in the Uitenhage Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 7 June 2021.

The charges will include human trafficking.