Interpol airlifts ‘abducted’ children to South Africa

International Police (Interpol), accompanied by officials from South Africa’s Department of Social Development (DSD), flew into the country on Monday and reclaimed two “abducted” siblings reportedly trafficked into the country.

The Malawi Government, according to Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability  and Social Welfare, cooperated fully with the team from South Africa in establishing the whereabouts of the two girls—aged 14 and 20.

The team from South Africa, according to Malawi Police Service (MPS) spokesperson Rhoda Manjolo, flew out of the country with the two girls through Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe on Tuesday.

Last Sunday, the South African government issued a statement about the mission of Interpol and its officers from the Department of Social Development, saying they were coming to repatriate the two girls it said were trafficked into Malawi and were facing abuse.

With help from Malawi police and officers from the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, the team traced the two siblings in Mulanje, where they were living with an aunt, according to Manjolo.

Principal secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Mary Shawa said in an interview on Wednesday that the Malawi Government fully cooperated with Interpol.

Shawa said the siblings escaped into Mozambique after an uncle they were living with—after they were brought into the country last year by their aunt—made sexual advances against them.

Nation On Sunday has opted not to mention the man’s name on ethical grounds to avoid identifying the children.

“After they were brought into the country by this woman [their aunt], they were living in Mulanje. According to a report filed by our officers on the matter, they escaped to Mozambique following these sexual advances. We cannot rule out a case of abduction. Malawi is working closely with neighbouring countries on human trafficking issues,” said Shawa.

However, MPS gave a different version of the story, saying it was more of a family issue than ‘abduction’.

Manjolo  claimed the children, born to a Malawian father and a South African mother, were brought into the country last year by their aunt.

She said it was while they were living with their aunt and uncle that the South African government raised the abduction issues after their grandmother reported the matter to authorities in South Africa.

The statement from South Africa’s DSD said the two children from Mpumalanga Province were removed from the care of their grandmother, to Malawi in July 2014 by a woman who posed as a former teacher.

According to the grandmother, the statement said, the 14-year-old had learning difficulties and the alleged ‘abductor’ had offered to take her to the UK for specialist care which the grandmother could not afford. n