Hawks arrest second suspect in Durban trafficking ring

The Hawks have arrested a second individual on charges of trafficking and kidnapping as they intensify their investigation into a trafficking ring that deceived young women with fake job offers. The 48-year-old suspect surrendered to authorities at Durban North Police Station on Thursday. Police spokesperson Colonel Philani Nkwalase stated that the man faces charges of human trafficking, sexual assault, and kidnapping during his appearance in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Friday.

The case originates from a 2022 rescue of four young women from Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, who were attracted to the promised SIM card job opportunity and subsequently enslaved into sexual exploitation at a Durban North residence. The recruiters assured the women that they would sell SIM cards to clients in a private casino, providing them with transportation and accommodation in Durban.

Nkwalase revealed that the suspects transported the victims to Durban North on March 2, 2022. Upon arrival at the Durban North house, the victims learned that the employment conditions had changed and that they would be subjected to physical sexual exploitation. The boss of the operation allegedly interviewed the victims at the premises, and one of the women was sexually assaulted by the boss.

The victims escaped after one of them sent a WhatsApp message to a boyfriend, who then reported the alleged trafficking to the police. The main suspect, a 65-year-old Durban businessman, was apprehended by the Hawks on Tuesday through a J50 warrant of arrest. He testified briefly before the Durban Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, and the case has been adjourned until August 25, 2026, for a formal bail application.

According to reports, witnesses referred to the controversial and prominent businessman during the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and the Saps ad hoc committee in Parliament. Nkwalase emphasized that the Hawks Serious Organized Crime Investigation team's investigation persists, and additional suspects connected to the incident will be apprehended.