CAPE TOWN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The South African government on Thursday welcomed a landmark court ruling against a Nigerian national convicted of human trafficking.
On Wednesday, the Gauteng High Court handed down six life sentences and an additional 129 years, the harshest sentence possible, to Ediozi Odi who operated a brothel and forced three young girls to work as sex slaves.
"This ruling shows that those found guilty of human trafficking and related crimes will be met with the harshest sentences possible," government spokesperson Phumla Williams said in Cape Town.
The sentence came as South Africa is facing a new spate of gender-based violence which have claimed the lives of dozens of women in recent days.
"Our country is at a place where the crimes against women and children are reaching alarming levels and (the) government will not allow this atrocious behavior to continue in South Africa," said Williams.
Through the various pieces of legislations and policies, such as the Human Trafficking Act, the South African government is committed to ensuring the safety of women and children, Williams said.