Allegations that young women, who were hired to perform dance shows in Turkey and host customers at hotels, were being exploited have been rubbished by the company that recruited them.
RT Concerts’ managing director, Tanya van Rie, said the allegations were devoid of all truth.
“Never in a million years would we do something like this. We have a name and reputation to protect. Prostitution is illegal in Turkey and we would never break the law.
“My own daughter has been there on such a contract, so do you think I would send my daughter there knowing that her life was in danger?” asked Van Rie.
Van Rie said two of the dancers had been sent back after they were found to be HIV-positive, while a third returned home because of TB. “Those complaining are complaining because they were fired, which happened because they have problems with authority. They knew what they were getting into. They knew that as well as dancing they had to perform hosting duties, but it was all above board and totally legitimate.
“We never once stopped those who wanted to return, and went out of our way to assist them,” she said.
Van Rie said because of fears around human trafficking in Turkey, “which we are very aware of”, extremely “strict” conditions governed the girls’ movements in that country. “When it came to their accommodation, they had to sign in and out of the hotel every time they left. They had to provide the hotel with information and contact details of the people they were meeting and where they were going. We were not just about to let young girls, who cannot speak Turkish, go out on the streets,” she said.
Reacting to the allegations of the girls being forced to perform sexual acts, Van Rie, said: “It is laughable. Is a man buying you a drink equal to prostitution? Any drunk man will try his luck, but if this happens, all the girl has to do is get up and leave.
“The clubs have very strict rules, especially around prostitution, and customers who misbehave are thrown out,” she said.
Carina Kuun, who is involved in casting sessions, said the parents and girls knew exactly what they were getting into. “Everything is explained, including how the hosting works. The contract, which everyone signs, states hosting is done so the girls can make commission on top of their salaries. Not once did we receive complaints while the girls were there. It only started once they came back,” she said.
She said they were not forcing anyone to do something they didn’t want to do. “We have had people who don’t like it once they are there, but they have returned without complaints. The hosting involves the girls chatting to clients. They earn a commission from the money the clients spend at the clubs. Those complaining were fired because of things they did wrong in the show and certain rules they broke,” she said. - Pretoria News