Trafficking case: 15-year-old girl’s harrowing ordeal leads to court appearance
The man appeared in Bellville magistrates court
Image: File
A 37-year-old man accused of trafficking a 15-year-old girl into a forced marriage and repeatedly raping her over a seven-month period made his first appearance in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court today, January 26, 2026.
Worku Lafebo Hayedmo faces serious charges of trafficking in persons and rape following an intensive investigation by the Hawks’ Economic Protected Resources team.
The court has remanded the matter to February 2, 2026, for a formal bail application, and the accused remains in custody.
The case stems from a harrowing account of deception that began in March 2025. It is reported that the 15-year-old victim traveled to South Africa alone, under the false pretense that she was relocating to the country to pursue her studies.
Upon her arrival in Johannesburg, she met Hayedmo, who accompanied her to Cape Town.
However, shortly after their arrival, the promise of an education was replaced by coercion as the teenager was allegedly forced into a marriage with the accused.
The nightmare intensified following the forced union, as the victim was expected to engage in sexual intercourse.
When she refused, she was reportedly subjected to physical assaults and repeated rapes over the course of seven months. The ordeal only reached a turning point in November 2025, when the minor managed to escape and sought refuge with a family friend in Cape Town.
After three weeks in hiding, the victim learned that Hayedmo was aware of her location. Fearing for her safety, she hitchhiked to George to seek help from her brother-in-law and subsequently reported the crimes at a nearby police station.
The matter was immediately referred to the Hawks for further probing, leading to the minor being placed in a secure place of safety in Cape Town.