An Ethiopian national accused of trafficking in persons will return to Bellville Magistrates Court on 10 February for a formal bail application in a case that has drawn concern from child protection groups, reports Cape town Etc .
The accused, 37-year-old Worku Lafebo Hayedmo, faces charges of trafficking and rape after the Western Cape Hawks say a 15-year-old girl travelled to South Africa in March 2025 under the promise of study and was then forced into a marriage on arrival in Cape Town iOS .
Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani of the Hawks said the girl was moved to a place of safety after reporting the abuse. The girl was apparently deceived under the pretence that she was relocating to South Africa in order to study, Hani said.
