Man and woman convicted of trafficking woman into prostitution in KZN

A man and woman have been convicted in the Pinetown Regional Court on charges including human trafficking, rape, kidnapping and forcing a woman into prostitution.

A man and woman have been convicted of human trafficking and several related offences after luring a woman to KwaZulu-Natal, where she was allegedly raped, held against her will and forced into prostitution.

The pair, who were convicted in the Pinetown Regional Court, were found guilty of trafficking in persons, kidnapping, keeping a brothel, procuring a female for prostitution, living on the earnings of prostitution and occupying premises used for the defilement of a female.

Accused 1 was further convicted on two counts of rape and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, while Accused 2 was convicted on one count of rape.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the offences occurred between September 2 and 6, 2022, after the adult complainant was lured to KwaZulu-Natal by the accused, who paid for her expenses.

After arriving at a house in the Malvern area, the woman was allegedly raped twice by Accused 1 and prevented from leaving.

The NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said she was subsequently forced into prostitution, with clients visiting the house.

“On several occasions the complainant asked to leave the house, and this angered Accused 1, causing him to assault her,” Ramkisson-Kara said.

The complainant was allegedly deprived of her freedom, with Accused 1 telling her that he “owned” her.

Her ordeal eventually came to light after she managed to contact her sister, who alerted police to her whereabouts.

Law enforcement officers acted on the information, rescued the woman and arrested the accused.

“The matter has been postponed to September 25, 2026, for sentencing proceedings in the Pinetown Regional Court,” Ramkisson-Kara