A prominent Durban businessman and his co-accused, Rangasamy Naidoo, facing human trafficking charges, are expected to apply for bail in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The case stems from a 2022 incident involving three young women from Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, who were lured with a fake SIM card job opportunity and were later forced into sexual exploitation at a Durban North property.
Naidoo, 48, is facing charges of human trafficking, kidnapping, cybercrime, crimen injuria, and procurement for prostitution.
The businessman faces a total of 20 charges, including sexual assault.
Westville Prison Hospital
The man, who cannot be named until he has pleaded to the charges, is a businessman and former policeman. He was convicted of dealing in Mandrax in 1992 and sentenced to an effective three years in prison.
The businessman was arrested on August 11. Following a brief first appearance, the matter was adjourned, and the businessman was taken to the Westville Prison hospital.
His doctor had written to police the day he was arrested, saying he was being treated for uncontrolled high blood pressure and a cholesterol disorder, and had previously had a tumour removed, and asking that he be kept within easy reach of his treating medical team.
The Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (DPCI) said Naidoo handed himself over to authorities at the Durban North Police Station.
“During the period February to March 2022, the accused recruited the three complainants under the false pretences of employment involving the sale of SIM cards at a casino and/or work in a call centew,” the state said.
Whatsapp Messages
The offer was made via WhatsApp in the name of a company called ICLICK, and the charge sheet said three of the 20 counts deal with those messages alone.
“Communicating false employment information for ‘ICLICK’ to the complainants via electronic communications, including WhatsApp.
“Representing the legitimacy of the employment opportunity for ICLICK.”
The messages worked, the state said.
“Which representations were false and did induce/cause the complainants to act upon such information, to their prejudice, in that they travelled to Durban to meet the employer.
“And were subsequently informed by the accused that the work was in fact of a sexual nature.”
Bail
The deputy director of public prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal, advocate Kalaivani Govender, of the organised crime component in Durban, signed a confirmation that the State would charge the businessman in the bail category that puts the onus on him to show exceptional circumstances before any court can let him out.
A few of the well-known businessman’s closest family were in court at his initial appearance.
