KEY POINTS
- A third suspect, Sinazo Yvonne Gidimisane, has been arrested in connection with a human trafficking ring based in Plumstead, following a Hawks-led raid in September 2024 that rescued a minor victim.
- Two other accused, Rogers Mubiru and Fatuma Bashiba, remain in custody as the case builds, with all three set to appear in court on April 17.
- The Hawks describe human trafficking as “modern slavery” and emphasize ongoing collaboration with social services to protect victims and dismantle criminal networks.
A third suspect has been arrested in connection with a human trafficking ring operating out of a Plumstead brothel, marking a significant development in a case that has exposed the dark underbelly of organized crime in Cape Town.
Sinazo Yvonne Gidimisane, 35, appeared briefly in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Friday, facing charges of trafficking in persons.
The arrest, made on April 10 by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in collaboration with the National Intervention Unit and Tactical Response Team, comes months after authorities first raided the illicit operation in September 2024. “This is a complex investigation that has required meticulous work to dismantle the network,” said Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, Western Cape spokesperson for the Hawks.
During the initial raid, officials discovered twelve occupants at the Plumstead property, including five sex workers.
Most alarmingly, a minor girl was identified as a victim of trafficking and immediately placed in the care of social workers. “The discovery of a child in these circumstances is particularly distressing and underscores the predatory nature of these crimes,” Hani added.
How investigators unraveled the trafficking ring
IOL reports that the investigation gained momentum in March 2025 when two other suspects—Rogers Mubiru, 34, and Fatuma Bashiba, 38—were arrested following weeks of tracing operations. Both remain in custody, with their case postponed to April 17 for a bail application. Gidimisane will join them in court for their next appearance.
Major General Mathipa Makgato, Head of the Hawks in the Western Cape, praised the collaborative effort that led to the arrests. “Human trafficking is an evil form of modern slavery that preys on the vulnerable. We are committed to working with government and civil society to eradicate this scourge,” Makgato stated.
The case has reignited calls for stronger measures to combat human trafficking in South Africa, where victims—often women and children—are frequently lured by false job promises or coerced into exploitation. Authorities urge the public to report suspicions of trafficking via the Crime Stop hotline (08600 10111) or local Hawks offices.
