PINETOWN – The Pinetown Regional Court has convicted a Nigerian man and a South African woman of multiple charges for operating an illegal brothel in Malvern, west of Durban.
The court postponed the sentencing proceedings of Nigerian man, Ifeanacho Ifeanyi (40), and a South African woman, Mapule Rosina Tshibangila (35) to 15 September. They were convicted of charges including rape, trafficking in persons, keeping a brothel and money laundering.
Warrant Officer Sibu Ncane, spokesperson for the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal, said both accused have been remanded in custody since their arrest on 5 September 2022. He said that Tshibangila and Ifeanyi’s conviction stemmed from an incident on 5 September 2022, when members of the Hawks’ Durban Economic Protected Resources (EPR) responded to a complaint from Durban Metro Police and Malvern SAPS regarding suspicious activity at a property on Hopewell Street in Malvern.
“Upon arrival, they found six occupants inside the house. Initial investigation identified one of the women as a victim, though she was not in a coherent state. She was promptly taken to the nearest hospital for medical examination.
“Further investigation confirmed that the house was being used for brothel activities with Nigerian national Ifeanyi identified as the property owner. He admitted to renting out the house for use as a business lodge and confirmed that the business was unregistered,” said Ncane. He said other occupants informed police that they were sex workers who used rooms at the lodge to conduct their activities.
Ncane said further investigation revealed that Ifeanyi was residing and operating a business in the country illegally, in violation of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.
Ncane said intensive investigation uncovered the modus operandi: Tshibangila served as the logistics coordinator, recruiting women from Johannesburg under the false pretence of job opportunities.
He said the investigations led to Ifeanyi and Tshibangila being arrested and charged with trafficking in persons, kidnapping and contravening the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957 by keeping a brothel.
The acting provincial head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in KwaZulu-Natala Brigadier Zenobia Mulligan, has welcomed the pair’s conviction and commended the investigating team for their diligent work.
