The National Prosecuting Authority says three complainants were allegedly brought to KwaZulu-Natal under false pretences of employment before being held against their will for sexual exploitation.

A 65-year-old Durban businessman appeared in the Durban Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday facing multiple charges arising from the alleged trafficking and exploitation of the women.

KwaZulu-Natal NPA regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the allegations relate to an incident between February and March 2022.

“The charges emanate from an incident that occurred between February and March 2022, where the three complainants in the matter were brought to KZN under false pretences of a job offer,” Ramkisson-Kara said.

“They were then held against their will for purposes of sexual exploitation.”

The accused faces charges including trafficking in persons, sexual assault, procurement of a female to have unlawful carnal intercourse, kidnapping, crimen injuria, as well as contraventions of the Films and Publications Board Act 65 of 1996 and the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020.

The Witness reported that the accused is facing three counts of kidnapping, three counts of trafficking in persons and two counts of sexual assault, in addition to other charges.

The matter was postponed to August 25, when the accused is expected to apply for bail.

The State’s allegations relate to an investigation that dates back to 2022, when women were allegedly recruited with promises of employment before being taken to KwaZulu-Natal.

The allegations of trafficking and sexual exploitation are serious because human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of people through means such as deception or coercion for the purpose of exploitation.

The current case follows previous human trafficking investigations in KwaZulu-Natal in which victims were allegedly lured with promises of employment before being subjected to sexual exploitation.

In a separate KZN trafficking case reported by IOL, the NPA previously described how a woman was allegedly lured to a Durban property, held captive and forced to have sexual intercourse with other people. Ramkisson-Kara said at the time that the accused faced charges including human trafficking, kidnapping and rape.

The latest case has also attracted attention because the accused is a prominent Durban businessman whose name has previously featured in investigations into alleged corruption and criminality involving the police and criminal justice system.

The Witness reported that his name had been raised at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is investigating allegations of corruption and criminality within the police and criminal justice system. His name had also been raised during proceedings of the SAPS ad hoc committee in Parliament.

The arrest reportedly followed a Hawks investigation, with the suspect arrested at his upmarket Umhlanga home on Tuesday night. The Witness reported that the Hawks executed a J50 warrant of arrest at the property.

The investigation has been ongoing for several years, with the latest court appearance marking a significant development in the matter.

The NPA has not said whether additional suspects will be arrested or whether further charges will be added as the case progresses.

The accused is expected to return to the Durban Magistrates’ Court on August 25 for his formal bail application.

The State will then be required to place its case before the court as it seeks to have the accused remain in custody pending further proceedings.

The accused has not pleaded to the charges and remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.