Minister Dina Pule: Received repatriated children at OR Tambo International Airport

Programme Director;

Acting Director-General of Social Development, Advocate Gugulethu Thimane; DDG for Welfare Services, Ms Siza Magangoe;

Government officials present;

Senior Managers and officials of the Department of Social Development; Members of the media;

Ladies and gentlemen.

I stand before you today with mixed emotions as we gather to receive two children who were victims of human trafficking and who have now been safely repatriated to South Africa.

It is particularly meaningful that we receive them today, as this marks an important step towards their reunification with their family following a prolonged period of hardship, separation and trauma.

In the interest of child protection and the public's right to access information, this media briefing provides an important platform for the Department to highlight its mandate and work in the protection of children, as well as to update South Africans on the repatriation of victims of trafficking in persons, undertaken in collaboration with other government departments, law-enforcement agencies and relevant entities.

The two little girl children aged 9 and 15, Respectively , were trafficked across the borders of South Africa into Malawi.

In line with what I have stated, we will also highlight the mandate and obligations of the Department of Social Development in relation to trafficking in children and the protection and support of child victims.

Background to the Case

The case involving these two children was referred to the Department of Social Development by Interpol South Africa. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in the Eastern Cape Province is handling the criminal investigation into allegations that members of a family were trafficked from South Africa to Malawi.

According to the information received, the alleged trafficking involved a couple comprising a Malawian national residing in the Eastern Cape Province and a South African woman originally from the Eastern Cape.

The reported victims included a grandmother, her daughter, and two minor girls. The two girls are the children whom we are receivig today.

According to the information available to law-enforcement authorities, the two children were allegedly lured to Malawi by the perpetrators.

Reports indicate that the male suspect initially gained access to the family through what has been described as a romantic relationship.He allegedly developed a relationship with the children's mother and gained the family's trust.

It is further alleged that he sought to gain control over the family's financial resources, including the grandmother's retirement pension.

The family was reportedly persuaded to sell their home and subsequently moved into rented accommodation. It is alleged that, during this period, the suspect exercised significant control over the family and restricted the movement of the adults, while allowing the children to leave the house.

After the family had lost their home and had become financially vulnerable, the alleged perpetrators reportedly lured them with promises of a better life in Malawi.

The family was transported to Blantyre, Malawi, on 11 October 2024. Upon arrival, their passports were reportedly taken from them and they were confined to a house and prevented from leaving.

According to the information provided to authorities, the family was subjected to mistreatment, deprived of adequate food and moved between different locations in Malawi. They remained in Malawi until January this year.

In January, the alleged traffickers reportedly arranged bus tickets and informed the adult victims that they would receive their passports at the border. The mother and grandmother were subsequently released, while the two children remained behind in Malawi.

On 2 March 2026, following their arrival in East London, the mother and grandmother immediately reported the matter to the South African Police Service.

As they had no accommodation, having lost their home, they were placed in a shelter for victims of trafficking, where they remained for approximately three months. The Rescue and Repatriation of the Children Fellow South Africans, 

As the Minister of Social Development, I am pleased to inform you that, on 9 July 2026, the two girls were rescued by the authorities in Malawi and placed in a place of safety.Through the cooperation between Interpol South Africa and the Department of Social Development, we were able to expedite the repatriation of the children to South Africa.

The children are being repatriated today, 3 September 2026, following extensive coordination between the South African and Malawian authorities. This intervention was necessary because the authorities in Malawi indicated that they did not have adequate capacity and resources to accommodate victims of crime for an extended period.

Officials from Interpol South Africa and the Department of Social Development travelled to Malawi on Sunday, 30 August 2026, to facilitate the repatriation process and ensure that the children's return was undertaken safely and in accordance with their best interests.

The Department's Legal Mandate as the Department of Social Development, we draw our mandate from, among other instruments, section 35(1) and (2) of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013.

This legislation provides for the repatriation of a child who has been trafficked where such repatriation is considered to be in the best interests of the child. It provides for the

  Department of Social Development to authorise, at State expense, an adult to escort the child from the place where the child was found to the place within the Republic from which the child was trafficked, or to the child's country of origin or the country from which the child was trafficked.

It is on the basis of this legal provision and, importantly, in consideration of the best interests of the children, that the Department approved and delegated a social worker to travel to Malawi to facilitate and support the repatriation of these children to South Africa.

Our objective is to ensure that they return safely and that they are reunited with their family while receiving the necessary care and support.

The Department will continue to work closely with Interpol South Africa and other relevant law-enforcement agencies in addressing cases of trafficking in children.

We will also continue to provide psychosocial support and other appropriate social services to the children and their family.

The return of these children to their country of origin and their family is an important step in their recovery and restoration of their rights. A Child Protection Matter, Not Simply a Missing Persons Case Ladies and gentlemen,

It is important to make it clear that this matter cannot simply be viewed as a missing persons case. The circumstances point to allegations of child trafficking and exploitation, which require a comprehensive child-protection and law-enforcement response.

The Department of Social Development's role is to ensure that the best interests of the child remain paramount, while working closely with law-enforcement agencies to ensure that allegations are properly investigated and that perpetrators, where found guilty, are held accountable in accordance with the law.

This case is also an important reminder that trafficking in persons and children is not a myth. It is real, it happens across borders, and it can happen to families within our own communities.

As we receive these children today, I urge parents, caregivers and communities to exercise caution when placing their trust in people, including individuals who may appear to befriend or assist vulnerable families.

Traffickers often exploit vulnerability, financial hardship and trust. They may use false promises of employment, a better life, relationships or financial assistance to lure their victims.

We must therefore remain vigilant and ensure that children are never placed in situations where their safety and well-being may be compromised.

A Call to Protect Children Fellow South Africans,The protection of children is a shared responsibility.

Government cannot do this work alone. Families, communities, schools, civil-society organisations and law-enforcement agencies all have an important role to play in identifying risks, reporting suspected trafficking and ensuring that children receive protection and support.

I therefore call on members of the public to report suspected cases of trafficking and the exploitation of children to the appropriate authorities.

Where a child is at risk, early intervention can make the difference between continued exploitation and a safe return to family and community.

Conclusion

In closing, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all government officials, law-enforcement agencies and partner institutions whose efforts made the safe repatriation of these children possible.

This case demonstrates the importance of intergovernmental and international cooperation in responding to trafficking in persons and protecting vulnerable children.

I also wish to acknowledge the work of the official from the Department of Social Development and Interpol South Africa who travelled to Malawi and worked to ensure that the children could return safely to South Africa.

To the members of the media, I thank you for your continued support in bringing matters affecting children to the attention of the public.