Suspected human trafficker remains in custody after Cape Town court appearance

A 23-year-old man accused of trafficking in persons and contravening South Africa’s Immigration Act has appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court, where the matter was postponed to early January for bail information.

David Nweneshi appeared in court on Monday, December 29, 2025, on two charges — contravention of the Immigration Act and trafficking in persons. The case was remanded to 6 January 2026 for bail proceedings, and the accused remains in custody.

According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Nweneshi was initially arrested four days earlier for an immigration-related offence. While he was already in custody, further investigations led to his arrest on an additional charge of trafficking in persons on December 27.

The Hawks said the case originated from a search-and-seizure operation conducted on December 23, by members of their Economic Protected Resources unit at a residence in Milnerton. The operation formed part of an investigation aimed at identifying possible victims of human trafficking.

During the operation, investigators identified one victim at the premises. The alleged trafficker was subsequently located and interviewed. During questioning, it emerged that the suspect was illegally in the country, leading to his immediate arrest under the Immigration Act.

As the investigation progressed, the victim later confirmed that the man arrested for the immigration offence was in fact the alleged trafficker. This confirmation resulted in the suspect being formally charged with trafficking in persons.

The Hawks have emphasised that contravention of the Immigration Act and trafficking in persons are two distinct offences under South African law, and that the suspect will be subjected to the full criminal justice process as the case continues.

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Cape Argus