Media Statement
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks)

WESTERN CAPE - Ayanda Wellington Wellem (57) was sentenced to more than  two life terms by the Cape Town Regional Court on 19 November 2024, for crimes ranging from trafficking in persons, rape, assault and failure to comply with the requirements of valid customary marriage.

Wellem was convicted on 15 July 2024 and was subsequently sentenced as follows:

• Count 1: trafficking in persons: life imprisonment.
• Count 2: failure to comply with the requirements of a valid customary marriage: nine months imprisonment.
• Count 3: rape: life imprisonment.
• Count 4: assault: six months imprisonment.

The sentences were ordered to run concurrently. Effectively, the accused will serve life in prison. He was deemed unfit to possess firearm and furthermore his particulars will be entered in the National registers of Sex Offenders and National Child Protection Register.

This stems from September 2012, when the victim, a 16-year-old female was taken from Eastern Cape to the Western Cape. On arrival she was forced into marriage with an older male person who was 45-year-old at the time. During this time, the victim fell sick and was taken to hospital which necessitated the nurses to trace the family.

The matter was then reported to the Hawks for investigation which consequently led to the arrest of four accused, namely, Ayanda Wellington Wellem, Nokuzola Joyce Mtya, Neliswa Fukula and Thozama Fukula on 10 September 2012.

Nokuzola Joyce Mtya and Neliswa Fukula were found not guilty and Thozama Fukula has since passed on.

The Acting Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Western Cape, Brigadier Ramovha commended the investigation and the prosecution team for the effective co-operation that led to this sentence.

Ends

Enquiries:
Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi
071 481 2534