Sex TraffickingArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking in After Dark Gentlemans' Club (2006)

A sex trafficking case from 2006 in After Dark Gentlemans' Club, South Africa.

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Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don’t have a verifiable source on file yet. Know one?

What happened

The Gauteng kingpin is said to have direct links to human trafficking syndicates in Thailand and usually receives new recruits from OR Tambo International Airport.The sources said that three kingpins - who were now in hiding - had been identified, two in KwaZulu-Natal and one in Gauteng, and warrants for their arrest had been issued. Unconfirmed reports state that the police, as part of their ongoing investigations, have uncovered a money trail between South African criminals and their Thai counterparts, running into millions of rands.

Response and intervention

26 women and four men were arrested in two raids. The raid led to the closure of the After Dark club in Cato Street and the discovery of other women at a private property in Pinetown. Investigations by the Tribune have revealed that some members of the SAPS had used their houses to keep Thai women. The policemen allegedly worked in tandem with trafficking syndicates and were instrumental in instilling fear in the girls, forcing them into prostitution. Lawyers representing the Thai nationals brought an application before the Durban magistrate's court for the release of the suspects from custody. This was opposed by the state, which argued that the suspects were already in the country illegally and that they should not be granted bail. The application failed and the 25 suspects were transferred to Westville Prison. The other five were moved to a safe house and placed under witness protection. The following year, in April 2007, 24 of the "suspects" were deported. Jimmy Howse, whose list of clients has included former housing boss Mdu Khoza, attorney Ian Stokes and the AbaThembu King, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, has been consulted to represent the girls.

Nearby cases

All 36 in South Africa →

Sex Trafficking2010

Durban, South Africa, 2010

South Africa ZA

Sayed and Chuchumporn are due to be sentenced on May 10 and face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or R100m fine, he said. The duo were arrested in 2007 after three Thai woman fled their brothel on Umbilo road and sought sanctuary at their embassy. The woman were recruited by Chuchumporn in Thailand. Recruited as prostitutes "It was clear from the moment they left Thailand it was for prostitution. There were no false pretences," said Mhaga. Though the women knew they were recruited to be prostitutes, the harsh treatment they received at the brothel forced them to flee. "It was also revealed that they were responsible for managing operations and activities at the said premises. The premises were therefore identified as the central operational point for the unauthorised and unlawful activities," said Mhaga. "There was therefore an existence of an organised human trafficking structure where females were being sexually exploited for a profit." Sayed and Chuchumporn are presently out on bail of R30 000 and R5 000, respectively. They were convicted on 19 counts. In addition to racketeering, they were convicted for contravention of the Sexual Offences Act and Immigration Act and money laundering. Police confiscated R19 700 and have shut down the Umbilo road brothel.

1 sourceArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking2010

Durban, South Africa, 2010

South Africa ZA

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article369559.ece A South African couple, Sayed and Chuchumporn, have been arrested after three Thai women fled their brothel on Umbilo Road in Durban. The women were recruited by Chuchumporn in Thailand and although they knew that they were being recruited to be prostitutes, the harsh treatment that they received at the brothel forced them to flee and seek the help of their embassy. The details of their story are unknown. Further investigation revealed that the couple was responsible for managing operations and activities at the said premises. The brothel was therefore identified as the central point for the unauthorized, illegal activities. There was an organized human trafficking structure where women were being sexually exploited.

1 sourceArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking2010

Mpumalnaga, South Africa, 2010

South Africa ZA

Nine Nigerian men were arrested for alleged human trafficking. The nine Nigerians had applied for asylum in South Africa although they did not qualify. The men took 12 woman with them all over the country and forced to them to prostitute themselves. The women were given drugs to keep them submissive and they were given R30 a day for food.

1 sourceArchive 2008–2016