THREE human traffickers were sentenced to 869 years imprisonment in the Durban Regional Court on Monday, almost five years after the biggest sex trafficking ring bust in KZN history.
Mastermind Sandile Patrick Zweni (41) and ‘runners’ Nonduzo Dlamini (27) and Bhabha Dubazini (33), were arrested when police raided the Inn Town Lodge in Rochester Street, Point Road in February 2012.
During the operation, 22 women aged between 14 and 26 were rescued and it was later alleged that girls as young as 12 were trafficked at the lodge.
The owner of the building, uMhlanga-based Dr Genchen Rugnath and his wife Ravina, were also arrested.
Rugnath, who owns two properties in Point Road, denied knowledge of the sex ring and said hotel manager Veena Budram managed the day-to-day operations.
The Rugnaths were acquitted by Magistrate Simphiwe Hlophe because of weaknesses in the testimony of Budram, who turned state witness.
Zweni, Dlamini and Dubazini were convicted of racketeering, running a brothel, sexual exploitation of a minor, living off the earnings of prostitution, human trafficking for sexual purposes and dealing in cocaine.
Zweni and Dlamini were also convicted of kidnapping, while Zweni was convicted of raping a minor and assault.
State Advocates Val Davel and Yuri Gangai called several girls to testify that they were locked up, fed on drugs and once addicted, sent out to prostitute themselves.
Shameful crime
Magistrate Hlophe said human trafficking was one of the world’s most shameful crimes.
He said what the victims endured, was difficult and painful and that they could only cope with it by taking drugs.
Zweni were convicted on 39 counts and sentenced to 315 years, running concurrently. He will effectively serve 35 years.
Dlamini was sentenced to 304 years on 38 charges, effectively serving 25 years, while Dubazini was sentenced to 250 years of which 25 years are effective.
Hlophe said that poverty and poor economic circumstances made it easier for human traffickers to drive young women into a life of drugs and prostitution.
Senior State Advocate of the Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit, Dawn Coleman–Malinga, congratulated advocates Davel and Gangai for their dedication and perseverance.
Advocate Coleman-Malinga is head of the KZN Human Trafficking, Harmful Traditional Practices, Pornography, Brothels and Prostitution Task Team, of which the Zululand Observer is a media partner.
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