A 38-year-old woman has been arrested in Durban by a multi-disciplinary team for her alleged involvement in trafficking persons and managing a brothel in Cape Town.
The Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks), in collaboration with the Durban Metro Police K9 Unit, confirmed the arrest took place on Monday, March 24.
The operation, which involved teams based in George and Durban, followed an investigation that began in September 2024 when cops raided a brothel in Plumstead, Cape Town.
Hawks' spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi said that 12 occupants were found during the raid. Five females were identified as sex workers.
"During investigation, a minor female was screened and found to be a victim of trafficking. She was handed over to the social workers from the Department of Social Development for emergency placement," said Vukubi.
Authorities also revealed that two suspected traffickers were identified and warrants of arrest were authorised, leading to the arrest of Rogers Mubiru and the tracking down and arrest of the woman in Durban.
She is expected to make her first court appearance in transit in the Durban Magistrate's Court on March 25, before being transferred to Cape Town for further proceedings.
The matter against Mubiru, the first suspect arrested in this case, has been postponed to April 17 for a formal bail application.