Durban North Human Trafficking Ring: Businessman Gets R50 000 Bail on 20 Counts
- An investigating officer testified that two men used fake job offers to lure young women from Eldorado Park to Durban in 2022
- The state opposed bail, warning the court that the primary suspect allegedly has ties to high-ranking police officials
- A magistrate granted bail to both accused despite strong state opposition, with the matter postponed to October 2026
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DURBAN — Details of an alleged human trafficking operation based in Durban North emerged during a bail hearing at the Durban Regional Court, where Investigating Officer Karl Sanders testified against two accused men.
According to IOL, Sanders told the court that a 65-year-old businessman and his co-accused, Selvan Rungasamy Naidoo, 48, recruited vulnerable young women from Eldorado Park to Durban in 2022. The women were promised legitimate employment at a company called ICLICK, with call centre work advertised as the draw. Once in Durban, the women were instead held captive inside a residential property, isolated from outside contact and compelled to perform in online webcam sexual sessions, engage in escorting, and participate in explicit acts.
State flags intimidation risks and police ties
Prosecutors argued firmly against the release of both men, raising concerns about the safety of witnesses and the integrity of evidence. Sanders informed the court that the primary suspect allegedly maintains connections to senior police officials who could interfere with the proceedings. He also disclosed that the businessman's mobile phone had been wiped while in police custody, raising further concerns about evidence preservation. Authorities ultimately forced entry into the Durban North property to secure the release of the women held there.
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Magistrate grants bail despite opposition
Magistrate Sharon Marks ruled in favour of bail for both accused, attaching strict conditions to each grant. The primary accused was released on R50,000 bail, while Naidoo was required to pay R100,000. Both men were ordered to surrender their passports and to report to their local police stations at regular intervals. The primary accused faces a total of 20 charges, which include counts of sexual assault. Sanders indicated that four further arrests are anticipated as the investigation broadens. The case was postponed to 22 October 2026.
Soweto man allegedly stages his own kidnapping
In a related article, Briefly News reported on a 28-year-old Soweto man who allegedly staged his own kidnapping in an attempt to extort R100,000 from his family. This unusual case sheds light on the lengths some individuals may go to for monetary gain, raising significant concerns for law enforcement and the community.
Source: Briefly News
