Two Nigerian women, Patience Precious Abudu, 35, and Success Egabor, 42, along with South African Nontobeko Mathunjwa, 36, were sentenced today in the Plettenberg Bay Regional Court for their roles in operating a brothel and exploiting trafficked Nigerian girls in George, Western Cape.
The trio pleaded guilty to charges including living off the proceeds of prostitution, running a brothel, and, for the Nigerians, contravening the Immigration Act.
The convictions stem from a sting operation by the Hawks’ Economic Protected Resources (EPR) team, in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, between December 2023 and May 2024.
On December 16, 2023, authorities rescued two young Nigerian girls from a brothel in a George complex, where they were found to have been trafficked into South Africa. The three women were arrested and have remained in custody since.
Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, stated, “The rescue of these girls exposed a sinister operation.
The convictions send a strong message that human trafficking and exploitation will not be tolerated in our communities.”
Abudu received a fine of R6,000 or three years imprisonment for living off prostitution earnings, R6,000 or three years for running a brothel, and R1,000 or six months for Immigration Act violations.
She was also ordered to pay R20,000 in compensation to each victim. Egabor faced identical fines for the same charges and was ordered to pay R17,000 to one victim.
Mathunjwa was fined R6,000 or three years for living off prostitution and R1,000 or six months for running a brothel, with an R18,000 compensation order to one victim.Additional charges, including trafficking in persons and debt bondage, were withdrawn.
The court ordered the deportation of Abudu and Egabor to Nigeria following their sentences.
Community leaders in George praised the Hawks’ intervention but called for stronger measures to prevent trafficking networks from taking root.
The rescued girls are receiving support from social services, and the Department of Home Affairs is facilitating their safe return to Nigeria.
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