Johannesburg | OR Tambo International Airport
Two South African girls, aged nine and 15, who were allegedly trafficked across the country’s border into Malawi in 2024, have been safely repatriated and reunited with their family, the Department of Social Development confirmed on Thursday. The children were received at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Gauteng, by Social Development Minister Dina Pule shortly before 11:30am on 3 September 2026, in what officials described as an emotional milestone after nearly two years of separation.
Speaking at a media briefing following the children’s arrival, Minister Pule said the case involved far more than a missing persons matter. “The circumstances point to child trafficking and exploitation,” she said, adding that she stood before the media “with mixed emotions” as she welcomed home two children who had been victims of human trafficking.
(Image Source: Department Of Social Development Facebook)
How the family was lured across the border?
According to details shared by the department, the trafficking began when a Malawian national living in the Eastern Cape formed a romantic relationship with the children’s mother, allegedly using that trust to gain control over the family’s finances — including access to the grandmother’s pension. The family, which included the two girls, their mother and grandmother, from the KuGompo area, was reportedly persuaded to sell their home and move into rented accommodation before being convinced to relocate to Malawi with promises of starting a business and building “a better life.”
The family travelled to Blantyre, Malawi, on 11 October 2024. Once there, their passports were allegedly confiscated and the adults were confined to a house, with only the children permitted to leave. The children’s mother eventually managed to escape and return to South Africa, but the two girls remained in Malawi, separated from their family, for close to two years.
Cross-border investigation and rescue
The case was referred to the Department of Social Development by Interpol South Africa, while the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) in the Eastern Cape led the criminal investigation. Eastern Cape Hawks provincial head Obed Ngwenya said investigators used a multidisciplinary approach, bringing in Interpol because the case crossed international borders, and social workers because the victims were minors.
Malawian authorities rescued the girls in July 2026 and placed them in a place of safety. Officials from Interpol and the Department of Social Development travelled to Malawi on 30 August 2026 to finalise arrangements for the children’s return. Minister Pule said Malawian authorities had indicated they did not have sufficient capacity to continue housing the children locally, which accelerated the repatriation process.
A warning about trafficking tactics
Minister Pule used the briefing to warn South Africans about the tactics traffickers commonly use to target vulnerable families. “They may use false promises of employment, a better life, relationships or financial assistance to lure their victims,” she said, cautioning that traffickers often exploit financial hardship, vulnerability and trust to manipulate families into dangerous situations.
The department said the two girls and their family will now receive psychosocial support and other social services as they begin the process of recovery and reintegration. In line with child protection protocols, the department has urged the media to respect the children’s privacy and dignity by refraining from photographing, filming or identifying them without appropriate consent and safeguarding arrangements in place.
Part of a wider repatriation effort
The department confirmed that, to date, it has repatriated 22 children who were victims of trafficking, as part of its ongoing programme to bring South African trafficking victims home safely. As custodian of the Children’s Act, the Department of Social Development works alongside the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Police Service, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Border Management Authority and civil society organisations to facilitate the safe return and reintegration of trafficked children.
The criminal investigation into the case remains active and is being handled by the Hawks in the Eastern Cape.
