Two Nigerian Women And South African Accomplice Jailed In George For Trafficking Girls And Running Brothel

 

A major conviction was handed down by the Plettenberg Bay Regional Court on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, when two Nigerian women and a South African accomplice were sentenced for operating a brothel linked to human trafficking in George, Western Cape.

The convicted trio, identified as 35-year-old Patience Precious Abudu, 42-year-old Success Egabor, and 36-year-old South African national Nontobeko Mathunjwa, admitted their guilt to multiple charges relating to prostitution and immigration violations. They were arrested by the Hawks’ Economic Protected Resources (EPR) unit in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, following an intensive investigation that spanned several months.

Their arrest was prompted by the rescue of two young Nigerian girls who had been trafficked into South Africa. On December 16, 2023, the girls were freed from a brothel situated inside a residential complex in George. Subsequent investigations uncovered evidence that confirmed the girls were trafficked for sexual exploitation, triggering a crackdown on the network of women running the operation.

Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, spokesperson for the Hawks in the Western Cape, explained that the accused had been held in custody from the time of their arrest through to sentencing. “The rescue of these young girls and the subsequent conviction is a clear demonstration of our commitment to dismantling trafficking rings that prey on vulnerable individuals,” Hani said.

During court proceedings, all three women pleaded guilty to selected charges including running a brothel, living off the proceeds of prostitution, and contravening immigration laws. Prosecutors, however, withdrew the heavier charges which included trafficking in persons, debt bondage, concealment or confiscation of travel documents, and profiting from the services of trafficking victims.

Despite the withdrawal of the trafficking-related counts, the sentences handed down were significant. Abudu received a fine of R6,000 or three years imprisonment for living off the earnings of prostitution, another R6,000 or three years imprisonment for operating a brothel, and an additional R1,000 or six months imprisonment for immigration violations. Beyond the fines, she was ordered to pay R20,000 in compensation to each of the victims.

Egabor faced similar penalties. She was fined R6,000 or three years imprisonment for living off the earnings of prostitution, R6,000 or three years imprisonment for running a brothel, and R1,000 or six months imprisonment for violating the Immigration Act. She was also ordered to pay R17,000 in compensation to one of the victims.

Mathunjwa’s sentence reflected a lighter level of involvement, yet remained severe. She was fined R6,000 or three years imprisonment for benefiting from prostitution, alongside R1,000 or six months imprisonment for her role in running the brothel. Additionally, she was ordered to pay R18,000 in restitution to one of the rescued victims.

The court also ruled that Abudu and Egabor, both Nigerian nationals, will be deported once their sentences are concluded. This move underscores South Africa’s growing intolerance toward foreign nationals who are implicated in serious crimes such as human trafficking and prostitution.

The convictions shed light on the rising concern over trafficking networks operating in South Africa. George, a popular tourist hub in the Western Cape, has increasingly been identified as a location where vulnerable women are exploited for sex work under coercive circumstances. The recent judgment illustrates the authorities’ resolve to tackle this issue head-on while sending a clear warning to perpetrators that the law will not tolerate such exploitation.

Human trafficking remains a global challenge that often targets women and children. Victims are typically lured with false promises of jobs or better opportunities, only to find themselves trapped in cycles of abuse, exploitation, and coercion. The George case exemplifies how transnational networks operate, using brothels as fronts for trafficking activities while masking their crimes as consensual sex work.

Advocates for victims’ rights have praised the ruling, noting that financial compensation ordered by the court can assist the victims in rebuilding their lives. However, activists also emphasized the need for continued vigilance, stronger legislation, and deeper cooperation between nations to prevent traffickers from exploiting legal loopholes.

The Hawks, known officially as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, have been stepping up efforts against organized crime, particularly cases involving human trafficking. Their work, in this instance, not only freed two victims but also disrupted a criminal ring that thrived on exploiting vulnerable young women.

This case highlights the urgent necessity for communities, law enforcement agencies, and governments to work collaboratively in addressing trafficking. With both financial penalties and prison terms imposed, the sentences serve as both punishment for the offenders and deterrence for others engaged in similar crimes.

The George brothel case stands as a powerful reminder that the exploitation of women and children cannot be tolerated, and that justice can provide both accountability for offenders and a measure of relief for survivors.