By: Pentho Goldmark Two Nigerian women and a South African woman have been sentenced in South Africa after being found guilty of running a ...
By: Pentho Goldmark
Two Nigerian women and a South African woman have been sentenced in South Africa after being found guilty of running a brothel and exploiting young girls trafficked into the country.
The convicts, identified as Patience Precious Abudu, 35, Success Egabor, 42, and South African national Nontobeko Mathunjwa, 36, appeared before the Plettenberg Bay Regional Court on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. They all pleaded guilty to charges including running a brothel, living off the proceeds of prostitution, and contravening the Immigration Act.
Their sentencing followed an extensive investigation and arrest by the Hawks’ Economic Protected Resources team (EPR), working in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs. According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, the trio were arrested between December 2023 and May 2024. He explained that two young Nigerian girls were rescued from a brothel in George on December 16, 2023, after it was discovered that they had been trafficked into South Africa.
Abudu was handed fines totaling R13,000 or multiple jail terms, including three years for living off the earnings of prostitution, three years for running a brothel, and six months for immigration violations. She was also ordered to pay R20,000 in compensation to each victim.
Egabor received the same fines and sentences but was directed to pay R17,000 in compensation to one of the rescued victims. Mathunjwa, on her part, was sentenced to fines of R7,000 or jail terms, including three years for living off prostitution earnings and six months for running a brothel. She was also ordered to compensate one victim with R18,000.
While several other charges, such as trafficking in persons, debt bondage, and confiscation of travel documents, were later withdrawn, the court ordered that Abudu and Egabor be deported to Nigeria after serving their sentences.
The case highlights South Africa’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on human trafficking and exploitation, with the court stressing that victims’ rights and welfare must remain at the center of justice delivery.
Photo credit: Linda Ikeji's Blog
No comments