Human trafficking
Zainul Dawood|Published
A prominent Durban businessman and his co-accused, Selvan Rungasamy Naidoo, charged with human trafficking, are expected to appear in the Durban Regional Court on Thursday.
In their previous court appearance, the Investigating Officer Karl Sanders told the court that more arrests were expected in the matter. It was reported that three others were arrested and had appeared in court in mid October 2026 in connection with the matter.
Naidoo faces charges of human trafficking, kidnapping, cybercrime, crimen injuria, and procurement for prostitution. The businessman faces a total of 20 charges, including sexual assault. He cannot be named until he pleads.
Investigation
The case relates to a 2022 incident involving three young women from Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, who were allegedly lured to Durban with a fake job opportunity involving the sale of SIM cards before being forced into sexual exploitation at a Durban North property.
Naidoo,48, and the businessman, 65, are out on bail. Magistrate Sharon Marks released the businessman on R50,000 and Naidoo on R100,000 bail. Sanders from the KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI/Hawks), told the court the matter will be ready for trial.
The businessman was arrested on August 11. Naidoo handed himself over at the Durban North Police Station the next day.
More arrests
A Phoenix woman, 43-year-old Pauline Sewsunker, was granted R10,000 bail in the Durban Regional Court on Thursday, October 15. She is accused of being part of a human trafficking scheme allegedly told young women lured to Durban with promises of legitimate jobs to “dress in sexy clothing” because the “boss” was on his way.
It was reported that Kinnon Charlston Du Plessis, 38; and Judith Ruth Meyers, 22, both of Eldorado Park in Johannesburg were also arrested. Sewsunker and her co-accused were arrested and charged with contravention of provisions of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Person Act, the Sexual Offence Act (procurement of a female to have unlawful carnal intercourse), the Film and Publication Act (distribution of unclassified sexually explicit material and operating without registration), the Cybercrime Act (attempted, conspiracy, aiding and abetting), cyber fraud, and crimen injuria.
Bail arguments
Sanders remained resolute that the men should not be given bail because they will interfere with witnesses and destroy evidence. Sanders also claimed that Naidoo’s family was also intimidated. Sanders said Naidoo made the oral confession while he was being fingerprinted at the police station, but he could not substantiate it in court because Naidoo declined to make an affidavit.
The businessman’s defence team consisted of Paul Jorgensen, instructed by Attorney Mohammed Jabeer Moideen. Jorgensen asked Sanders to prove that the men would endanger the lives of witnesses and destroy evidence if they were released on bail. Sanders said a statement was taken in 2022 by the investigating officer where the victims claimed they were intimidated.
Jorgensen said the incident happened in 2022, and this gave his client ample time to destroy any evidence in that period and/or interfere with witnesses if he wanted to. Naidoo was represented by Niven Rai, instructed by Ray Maharaj, who made similar arguments.
Sanders added that the businessman's phone was wiped clean at the Durban North Police station after he was questioned in 2022.
WhatsApp messages
The court heard that the job offer was made via WhatsApp in the name of a company called ICLICK. The charge sheet states that three of the 20 counts relate to 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.”
The story will be updated once court proceedings have been concluded.
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