Two suspects linked to the alleged trafficking of three women from Eldorado Park in Johannesburg to Durban are expected to appear in the Durban Regional Court on Friday for a formal bail application.
The suspects were arrested by the Hawks’ human trafficking unit in Eldorado Park on Wednesday and appeared briefly in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court before being brought to Durban.
The investigation centres on allegations that three women were lured to Durban in 2022 with promises of employment selling SIM cards to customers at a private casino.
According to the Hawks, the women were promised transport and accommodation before being taken to a house in Durban North.
They were allegedly told after their arrival that their work would involve prostitution, both in person and online.
One of the women managed to send a WhatsApp message to her boyfriend, raising the alarm that they could be victims of human trafficking and sharing their location.
The information was passed on to investigators, who subsequently located and rescued the women.
A Durban businessman and an alleged accomplice were arrested last month in connection with the case. They have since been granted bail of R100,000 and R50,000 respectively.
The two newly arrested suspects face charges including human trafficking, kidnapping and sexual offences.
They are expected to formally apply for bail in the Durban Regional Court as investigations into the alleged trafficking operation continue.