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The cost of human trafficking
16/02/2005 21:23 - (SA)
Johannesburg - It costs R50 000 a head to move people between certain countries, a witness said in a Johannesburg High Court murder trial that involved allegations of "human trafficking".
This was aid by Ali Tarssawari, who turned State witness after having been in the dock for allegedly trying to cover up the execution-style murder of Mozambican immigrant Fatima Momade and her daughter, Nazia, 11.
He said this fee related to two Pakistanis who were "moved" from South Africa to France.
Pakistanis Waheed Shaik and Majid Saleem are appearing on charges of murder and the attempted murder of another of Momade's daughters.
Amanulla Narsulla was appearing on the same charges Tarssawari had faced. They have all pleaded not guilty.
Momade and Nazia were found dead and dumped beside the Potchefstroom highway near Lenasia. The other daughter, aged eight, survived the execution-style shooting.
Accused and victims shared a house
Tarssawari said he had heard Momade on numerous occasions being asked to hand over money for the two who had been bound for France.
Momade, her daughters, the three in the dock, Tarssawari and a previous witness had all shared a house.
Tarssawari said that on March 3 2003, three men - apparently Shaik, Saleem and someone who is overseas - asked Momade to accompany them somewhere.
The men returned about 40 minutes later and he heard someone say to the children: "Come, I am taking you to your mummy."
Tarssawari told the court: "Yes, the children went with them. I didn't see the children again."
Overheard death threats
He said that on that day he had heard death threats being made against the trio on two occasions.
He also said he was later told about the murders and warned "don't tell anyone else or you will be killed".
Tarssawari has been warned by the court that if his evidence is not satisfactory in all material aspects, he could be charged once again as an accessory.
The trial continues.
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