Couple drugs woman, forces her into prostitution at Bloemfontein flat

A 34-year-old woman, who was travelling from Botshabelo to Johannesburg via Bloemfontein, was approached while waiting for a train on January 8, by an “African female and her Nigerian husband who told her to accompany them to their flat, from where they were selling jeans,” Free State Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Lynda Steyn said in a statement.

She accompanied them to the flat in Zastron Street, Bloemfontein, where she was forcibly injected with drugs and intimidated. She was forced into prostitution the same night. The traffickers received money from “two clients whom she serviced”, Steyn said.

Taken to police station by ‘client’

According to ANA, the third client realised that she was crying and took her to the Park Road police station, and she was subsequently admitted to the National Hospital until the following day.

Police accompanied her to the crime scene to fetch her belongings. The suspects were present, but were not arrested. A case of common assault (injected with a needle) was registered.

Handed over to Hawks

The matter was handed over to the Hawks on January 15 for investigation. Hawks officers and members of the SAPS K9 unit conducted an operation at 9am on Friday. One suspect was pointed out by the victim and arrested. Two more suspects were still on the run.

The arrested suspect would appear in court on Monday 20 January on charges of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, Steyn said.

Hawks swoop on Bloemfontein ‘brothel’

In a separate incident on Sunday 12 January, a 14-year-old girl was among 10 people rescued from what is believed to be a brothel in Bloemfontein.

“Officers searched a flat in Nelson Mandela Drive on Sunday afternoon where a 27-year-old man, nine women and the girl were found at the flat. The females were alleged to be prostitutes.”

Free State Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Lynda Steyn

Officers also found 24 small packets of drugs at the flat.

According to Steyn, there was also a journal with names and the amounts of money each of them allegedly made a day.

The man was arrested and appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday 14 January.