BILLY NTAOTE and SECHABA MOKHETHI Schools in rural communities are faced with high drop-outs as a result of early child marriage or teenage pregnancy, both sad reality that perpetuates the circle of poverty and shutter dreams of many girls. For Nthatuoa*, falling pregnant in her teenage was the last thing on her
Human Trafficking Report
Traffickers target defenceless ladies of the night
BILLY NTAOTE For most victims of human trafficking, they were either recruited with the promise of greener pastures at their final destination leaving their comfort zone and only to be sold into prostitution or hard labour without pay. Other victims that one may not think about, and yet most vulnerable to trafficking,
Thirteen-year-old defies family, escapes forced-marriage
BILLY NTAOTE For Basotho living in the rural parts of the country, early child marriage doesn’t exists — it’s a myth — when a teenager is impregnated, families rush to organise a traditional wedding ceremony and it’s a done deal. This common, yet cruel practice perpetrated on the girl child continues in
Chief in court for trafficking
SECHABA MOKHETHI Chief Letsie Shoaepane of Ha Shoaepane in Matsieng is facing trafficking charges relating to allegedly transferring a 20-year-old woman from Thaba-Tseka district, harbouring her in his house and subjecting her to forced labour and repeated rape in September 2016. In this protracted trial, Letsie first appeared before magistrate court on
Chinese trafficker off hook
How Lesotho ground-breaking case was bungled SECHABA MOKHETHI A 42-year old Chinese man was sentenced 15 years in prison with no option of fine but is now a free man after spending only two months in jail. The Maseru magistrate court had slapped Zheng Chuan Xian with 15-years imprisonment in January 2012,
Nhlapo’s victim speaks out
BILLY NTAOTE Thato*, one of Nhlapo’s victims who still fears for her life said she met Nhlapo on Facebook in April 2018 and only agreed to meet him when he made an offer she could not refuse being a young model, only to be assaulted and raped. She said Nhlapo sent her
SA’s social media trafficking serial rapist put-in-irons
BILLY NTAOTE The alleged Fouriesburg social-media serial rapist Mokena Petrus Nhlapo (39) is now facing 46 criminal charges since his arrest by members of the Bethlehem Family violence, child protection, and sexual offences Unit (FCS). Nhlapo is facing charges of kidnapping, trafficking of persons for sexual purposes, assault, pointing of a firearm,
Poverty blamed for Lesotho-SA trafficking
SECHABA MOKHETHI Poverty-stricken Basotho usually fall prey to scams and deceptions which see them lured into trafficking traps which result in forced sex work and labour, dashing any hopes of greener pastures in the comparatively rich South Africa. MNN Centre for Investigative Journalism has uncovered these misdeeds are not only performed by
Sold into Slavery: A Lifetime of Abuse
A woman tells her story of being abducted and trafficked across the border into slavery SECHABA MOKHETHI One day, Lipuo woke up in Johannesburg, with no memory of how she got there. As she regained consciousness, she came to discover she and her friend, Itumeleng, had been trafficked across the South African border.
Teen trafficked into prostitution
BILLY NTAOTE Lineo*, just seventeen (17) — tempted by the promise of a luxurious life in South Africa — found herself agreeing to date Charles*, they connected through social media, later agreeing to a first romantic get-away that turned out to be a gateway to being trafficked into prostitution. She told MNN
