Durban businessman faces court over alleged sex trafficking of job seekers
A 65-year-old Durban businessman appeared in the Durban Magistrates' Court this week on charges of human trafficking, sexual assault, and cyber fraud, after allegedly luring three women with false job promises before coercing them into the sex industry. The accused, who cannot be named due to the nature of the allegations, was arrested on Tuesday and his case has been remanded to 25 August 2026 for a bail application.
The charge sheet, which has laid bare the full scope of the allegations, paints a disturbing picture of exploitation that cuts to the heart of South Africa's ongoing struggle with gender-based violence and economic vulnerability. The women, who travelled from Johannesburg to Durban believing they were pursuing legitimate employment, instead found themselves trapped in a world of webcam prostitution, escort services, and sexual performances for profit.
What are the specific charges against the Durban businessman?
The charges include trafficking in persons, sexual assault, procurement of a female to have unlawful carnal intercourse, kidnapping, contravention of the Films and Publications Board Act 65 of 1996, crimen injuria, and contravention of the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020.
According to the charge sheet, between February and March 2022, the accused allegedly recruited the women through false employment representations communicated via computer systems. The women were told they had jobs waiting for them in Durban, but upon arrival, they were informed the work was of a sexual nature: performing sexual acts while posing naked on webcams, engaging in webcam prostitution, providing escort services, and appearing on the Red Velvet website performing sexual acts with men in exchange for payment.
How were the women allegedly exploited?
The trafficking charges detail how the accused allegedly recruited, transported, transferred, delivered, harboured, or received the women by means of coercion, deception, or threats for sexual exploitation. The alleged crimes took place in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, and Durban during the period from February to March 2022.
In one count of sexual assault, the charge sheet states that in Durban North, the accused allegedly violated one complainant by hugging her and squeezing her buttocks without consent. He is also alleged to have done the same to another complainant, squeezing her breasts and buttocks without her consent. Additionally, he faces allegations of attempting to induce another individual to commit a sexual offence.
The accused is also charged with the unlawful distribution of sexually explicit material without being registered with the Films and Publications Board, a contravention that speaks to the broader commercial exploitation of Black women's bodies in the unregulated digital sex trade.
What does the NPA say about the case?
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, confirmed that the 65-year-old man appeared in court on several charges, including trafficking in persons. She stated that the state is alleging the complainants were brought to KwaZulu-Natal under false pretences of an employment opportunity and were held against their will for purposes of sexual exploitation.
The case has been remanded to 25 August 2026 for a bail application, and the accused remains in custody.
Why this case matters for South Africa
This case is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that persist in our society, particularly for women seeking economic opportunity in a country still grappling with the legacy of apartheid-era inequality. The promise of a job, a lifeline for so many, was weaponised here as a tool of coercion and control.
Our communities have long known that economic desperation makes people targets. The accused, a businessman of means, allegedly exploited that desperation with calculated precision, using digital platforms to cast a wider net and obscure his tracks. This is not an isolated incident; it is a symptom of a system that too often values profit over people, and where the bodies of Black women are treated as commodities to be bought, sold, and consumed.
As this case proceeds through the courts, we must hold our justice system to account. The NPA must pursue this matter with the seriousness it deserves, and our society must confront the uncomfortable truth that human trafficking and sexual exploitation are not distant horrors, but realities happening in our cities, in our towns, and to our people.
The women in this case showed immense courage in coming forward. Their testimony, if this case goes to trial, will be a testament to their resilience. We owe them more than outrage; we owe them justice, and we owe them a society where no woman has to risk her safety for the chance at a livelihood.