The Komatipoort Magistrates Court has sentenced a 32-year-old Mozambican man who trafficked fourteen minors into the country three weeks ago. Armando Mate was sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option to pay a R6,000 fine.

SUSPENDED SENTENCE

According to Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, Mate's sentence was wholly suspended for three years on the condition that during the three years, he does not commit a similar offence; he must not be found unlawfully assisting any person in entering, remaining, or departing South Africa. Mate was sentenced by the Komatipoort Magistrate's Court on Friday. He was arrested in Komatipoort on 06 December shortly after he smuggled 14 Mozambican girls aged 04 and 16 years through the Lebombo Border gate. Nkosi said members of the Border Management Authority stopped the minibus that was fully loaded with the fourteen girls on the N4 next to one of the filling stations. Mate and the victims were handed over to Komatipoort SAPS, and the case of aiding and abetting was registered.

GIRLS SENT BACK HOME

After the case was opened, the victims were handed over to the Department of Social Development for assessment before returning to their country of origin. Mate made a few court appearances before he pleaded guilty. Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber, welcomed the sentence. "Aiding and abetting people to illegally enter, depart, or remain in the Republic undermines both the country's laws and human dignity," warned Gerber.