'Dress sexy, the boss is on his way': Mom accused of human trafficking tells job seekers

A Phoenix woman accused of being part of a human trafficking scheme allegedly told young women lured to Durban with promises of legitimate jobs to “dress in sexy clothing” because the “boss” was on his way.

A PHOENIX woman accused of being part of a human trafficking scheme allegedly told young women lured to Durban with promises of legitimate jobs to “dress in sexy clothing” because the “boss” was on his way.

Shortly thereafter, two of the three job seekers were allegedly sexually assaulted by the “boss”.

This emerged during the bail application of 43-year-old Pauline Sewsunker in the Durban Regional Court last week.

Sewsunker is the fifth accused in the alleged human trafficking case against a "controversial" 65-year-old Durban businessman; Selvan Naidoo, 48, of Verulam; Kinnon Charlston Du Plessis, 38; and Judith Ruth Meyers, 22, both of Eldorado Park in Johannesburg.

The businessman, who is charged with sexual assault, cannot be named until he pleads.

The accused were alleged to have been operating a human trafficking operation that involved the recruitment, transportation, harbouring, and sexual exploitation of vulnerable young women through deception and false promises of employment in 2022.

They were arrested by members of the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) between August and October.

Sewsunker and her co-accused were arrested and charged with contravention of provisions of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Person Act, the Sexual Offence Act (procurement of a female to have unlawful carnal intercourse), the Film and Publication Act (distribution of unclassified sexually explicit material and operating without registration), the Cybercrime Act (attempted, conspiracy, aiding and abetting), cyber fraud, and crimen injuria.

In his supporting affidavit in opposition to bail, Detective Warrant Officer Karl Ronald Sander, of the Hawks’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, said the (three) complainants were (allegedly) trafficked during February and March 2022 from Eldorado Park to premises in Durban.

He said they were recruited under false pretences, deception, and/or fraud for legitimate employment in Durban involving the sale of SIM cards, through a company known as “I Click”, and/or working in a call centre.

“There was communication and coordination between multiple suspects on their transportation arrangements to Durban from Johannesburg.”

Sander said that upon their arrival, they were collected and transported to a house in Stirling Crescent in Durban North.

“Accused five (Sewsunker) informed the complainants to dress in sexy clothing as the ‘boss’ was coming to the house.”