Nigerians accused of running illegal brothels and abusing Zimbabwean women in South Africa

By Tererai Karimakwenda
05 December 2006

A Zimbabwean woman who escaped from an illegal brothel in Johannesburg has exposed a sex slave trade that is run by Nigerians who recruit Zimbabweans to work in them. The woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous for her safety, told us she was promised she would get a high paying job in a hair salon or as a waitress by a woman she met in Bulawayo. But she wound up in a brothel in Johannesburg where she met many other Zimbabwean women who had been forced into prostitution.

The woman claims the entire operation is owned and managed by Nigerians who are using Zimbabwean women to recruit others to work as prostitutes. In her case, our contact said she was tricked by a woman in Bulawayo who is well-respected in the community. She drives an expensive car and is known to visit South Africa frequently “on business”. Our contact said she trusted the woman because she is known to have helped many women to get work in South Africa.

The women are smuggled out and in some cases helped to get visitors’ permits. Upon arrival, they are given some rands as a sign of good faith. But before they have even worked, they are asked to repay the money and taken to the brothels where they are forced into prostitution by the Nigerians. Our contact said she spoke to the other Zimbabweans in the brothel near Johannesburg and was told that her contact with people back home would be terminated. If she wanted to send money, she would also have to do that through their Nigerian abductors. She told us the clients that came to the brothel were also Nigerians.

After a few days, our contact found the chance to escape with only the clothes on her back. She is now working legally in South Africa and seeking help to overcome her traumatic experience. As for the exact location of the brothels, she said she cannot pinpoint where they are because she was taken there at night and was not allowed out by herself. When she escaped, she was given a lift by a good Samaritan who found her on the outskirts of Johannesburg.