David Chauke has been convicted in the Worcester Regional Court after a 12-year-old girl was found living with him as his “wife” in Robertson, according to the Hawks. The 43-year-old was found guilty on multiple charges after a case that began with a rescue operation in November 2020.

The matter has now been postponed for sentencing. Chauke is due back in court on 19 May, after remaining in custody throughout the trial, according to the supplied report.

David Chauke convicted on multiple charges

The case centres on the abduction and rape of a 12-year-old girl who was discovered living with the accused in Robertson. According to the supplied source, the Worcester Regional Court convicted Chauke on charges that include abduction, trafficking in persons, rape, sexual exploitation of children and contravening the Immigration Act.

The report says two local women first raised alarm with a community leader after noticing that a young girl was living with an adult man and may have been held against her will under the appearance of a domestic relationship. That information led to a Hawks investigation and a joint operation involving the SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, the Department of Social Development and Interpol.

Rescue operation began in November 2020

According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, the girl was rescued during an intelligence-led operation in Robertson in November 2020. Chauke was arrested on 13 November 2020, and the child was removed from the premises and placed in the care of social services.

The case also fits into South Africa’s broader anti-trafficking response. The Department of Justice said in January 2026 that suspected trafficking matters are assessed with SAPS and social development structures in line with the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act. In October 2025, the department also urged the public to report suspected trafficking through official channels, including the national hotline 0800 222 777.

Sentencing next month

The next court date in the matter is 19 May, when sentencing is expected to proceed. The supplied source does not include comment from Chauke or his legal representatives after the verdict.

South Africa remained on the US State Department’s Tier 2 Watch List in its 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report, which said the country had not yet met minimum standards for eliminating trafficking despite continued efforts. That broader context underlines why child protection and trafficking prosecutions remain closely watched.