South Africa intercepts 133 suspected trafficking victims

Police in South Africa's north-eastern province of Limpopo have intercepted 133 people suspected to be human trafficking victims.

The group, which was made up of both children and adults, was being transported in 10 minibus taxis, public broadcaster SABC News has reported, citing the police.

"We have summoned all the role players, including Home Affairs, so that they can check where they’re coming from. In most likely cases, these people are going to be deported back to their border," the provincial spokesperson Hlulani Mashaba told SABC News.

It is the third such announcement since last weekend.

On Sunday, authorities in Limpopo, which borders Zimbabwe, said they had intercepted more than 400 unaccompanied minors who had been brought in from Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean authorities have since denied this account, saying there were only 124 children.

The NGO Save the Children has also disputed South Africa’s claim that the children were trafficked, stating that they were not being brought to South Africa to be exploited.

Police also announced the rescue of 33 victims human trafficking victims in a separate operation in Gauteng province.