One of the alleged kingpins accused of being part of a human trafficking syndicate and of running a brothel in Durban’s Point was denied bail in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Sandile Zweni, 37, Nondumizo Blue Dlamini, 23, and Bhabha Dubazani, 29, are charged with 63 counts including human trafficking, kidnapping and money laundering.
The three men were arrested after a raid on the Town Holiday Lodge in Rochester Road. Eighteen women – ranging from a pregnant 14-year-old to one aged 26 – were taken into care.
It is alleged that they were locked up, held against their will and forced into prostitution for two years.
On Wednesday, all three men were expected to apply for bail, but both Dlamini and Dubazani abandoned their bail applications.
Zweni’s bail application proceeded but was refused by magistrate Anita Govender.
Govender ruled that Zweni had previous convictions for assault, which showed that he had the propensity to commit violent acts and it was not in the interests of justice to release him.
Prosecutor Val Dafel had told the court that Zweni had allegedly picked up the women and taken them to the brothel.
At the brothel, he forced them to have sex with him and made them take drugs.
A fourth accused, a woman who allegedly ran the brothel, has turned State witness.
The alleged owners of the building, a doctor, Genchen Rugnath, and his wife Ravina, have been charged with 42 counts in connection with the crimes including charges of human trafficking and operating a brothel.
Rugnath and his wife are out on bail of R30 000 each.
During their bail application, Dafel had said the women had been forced to take drugs and then worked as prostitutes.
Their earnings were given to Zweni, Dlamini and Dubazani and they received R20 to R25 a day for food.
All the women are being kept in places of safety. - The Mercury