- A mother and two men - aged 32, 36 and 42 - were arrested by the Hawks in East London on Wednesday.
- They are expected to appear in court on Friday.
- It's understood that two children aged 13 to 15 were sold.
The Hawks in the East London have arrested a mother and two shop owners in the Eastern Cape for alleged human trafficking.
The three - aged 32, 36 and 42 - were apprehended on Wednesday when the serious organised crime unit and the King William’s Town K9 unit swooped on them.
Hawks spokesperson Yolisa Mgolodela said the the woman had allegedly sold her daughter, who suffers from Down syndrome, as well as a 15-year-old boy, to the men.
"It is alleged that during the period between February 2019 to March 2021, the arrested female who is a mother of a 13-year-old who suffers from Down syndrome, sold her [daughter] and a 15 year-old boy to the male, suspects who are shop owners in Keiskammahoek, for sexual exploitation.
Mgolodela said the girl could not provide them with details about the sale, but that the 15-year-old had claimed that he was sold for R450.
"The matter was reported to the East London Serious Organised Crime Investigation team which led to the arrest of the trio."
The suspects are expected to appear in the Keiskammahoek Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
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