Key Takeaways
- A Durban businessman (whose name is protected pending plea) and his co‑accused, Rangasamy Naidoo, are facing multiple charges, including human trafficking, kidnapping, cybercrime and sexual assault, stemming from a 2022 scheme that lured three young women from Eldorado Park with a fake SIM‑card job offer.
- Both accused have submitted affidavits supporting their bail applications, arguing they are not flight risks, will not interfere with witnesses, and have compelling personal or medical circumstances.
- The businessman cites uncontrolled high blood pressure, a cholesterol disorder, a prior tumour removal and heart problems; he also notes his former police career and a 1992 Mandrax conviction.
- Naidoo emphasizes his legitimate concrete‑block business, his 80‑year‑old terminally ill father, lack of prior convictions, cooperation with police and the four‑year delay between the alleged offences and his arrest.
- The state alleges the recruitment was conducted via WhatsApp messages in the name of a fictitious company, ICLICK, which falsely promised legitimate employment before the victims were told the work was sexual in nature.
- The bail hearing was adjourned to allow the National Prosecuting Authority to respond; the businessman is currently housed in the Westville Prison Hospital for medical monitoring.
Background of the Alleged Offences
In early 2022, three young women residing in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, were approached with an employment opportunity advertised via WhatsApp. The messages purported to come from a company called ICLICK and offered work selling SIM cards at a casino or positions in a call centre. The women accepted the offer, traveled to Durban, and were subsequently informed that the actual work involved sexual exploitation. They were held at a property in Durban North and forced into prostitution, forming the core of the human‑trafficking charges now before the court.
Charges Against the Accused
Rangasamy Naidoo, 48, faces a suite of serious offences: human trafficking, kidnapping, cybercrime, crimen injuria (unlawful impairment of dignity), and procurement for prostitution. The Durban businessman, whose identity remains protected until he enters a plea, is confronted with a total of 20 charges. These include the aforementioned trafficking‑related counts as well as multiple counts of sexual assault. The gravity of the allegations has prompted the prosecution to seek stringent bail conditions, while the defence stresses mitigating factors.
Defence Argument: No Flight Risk and Witness Protection
Attorney Jay Mohideen, representing the businessman through counsel Paul Jorgensen, told the court that his client poses no flight risk. Jorgensen emphasized that the accused has strong community ties, a stable residence, and would comply with any bail conditions imposed. He further asserted that the businessman would not attempt to influence or intimidate any witnesses, a critical consideration given the nature of the charges involving vulnerable complainants.
Medical Grounds Presented for Bail
Jorgensen also read a detailed list of the businessman’s health issues, which include uncontrolled high blood pressure, a cholesterol disorder, a previously removed tumour, and ongoing heart problems. A letter from the businessman’s treating physician, dated the day of his arrest, urged authorities to keep him within easy reach of his medical team. The defence argued that incarceration without adequate medical supervision could exacerbate these conditions, making bail a humanitarian necessity.
Political Motivation Claim
During the affidavit reading, the businessman’s legal team suggested that the prosecution may be politically motivated. While no concrete evidence was presented to support this claim, the assertion was introduced to contextualise the accused’s plea of not guilty and to frame the bail request within a broader narrative of perceived injustice.
Naidoo’s Personal and Professional Background
In his own affidavit, Rangasamy Naidoo described himself as the owner of a concrete‑block manufacturing business in Durban that employs fifteen staff members. He highlighted his role as a family man, noting the deep affection he holds for his relatives and his commitment to abide by any bail conditions. Naidoo also revealed that his 80‑year‑old father is terminally ill, underscoring his familial responsibilities as a reason for seeking temporary release.
Lack of Prior Criminal Record and Cooperation
Naidoo stressed that he has no previous convictions, a fact he believes should weigh heavily in the bail determination. He recounted that he voluntarily presented himself to the Durban North Police Station, cooperated fully with the investigating officer, and handed over relevant evidence. This proactive cooperation, he argued, demonstrates his respect for the legal process and reduces any perceived risk of non‑compliance with bail terms.
Timing of Arrest and Delay Allegations
A significant point raised by Naidoo’s defence was the temporal gap between the alleged offences (February–March 2022) and his actual arrest, which occurred in August 2026. He contended that the four‑year delay undermines the urgency of keeping him in custody and suggested that the prolonged investigation indicates weaknesses in the state’s case. The defence urged the court to consider this delay when evaluating the necessity of pre‑trial detention.
State’s Case: WhatsApp Recruitment Under the ICLICK Ruse
The prosecution’s narrative centers on a series of WhatsApp messages sent under the guise of ICLICK. The charge sheet specifies that twenty of the counts relate directly to these electronic communications. The state alleges that the messages falsely represented a legitimate employment opportunity, induced the complainants to travel to Durban, and subsequently revealed that the work was sexual in nature. The prosecution maintains that these communications constitute cybercrime, fraud, and the initial act of trafficking.
Medical Custody: Westville Prison Hospital
Following his arrest on August 11, the businessman appeared briefly before the Durban Magistrate’s Court before the matter was adjourned. Due to the medical letter from his doctor, he was transferred to the Westville Prison Hospital, where he remains under observation. The facility provides access to the cardiac and lipid‑management treatment required for his conditions, addressing the defence’s concerns about his health while in custody.
DPCI Confirmation of Naidoo’s Surrender
The Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (DPCI) confirmed that Rangasamy Naidoo surrendered himself at the Durban North Police Station. This voluntary surrender was presented by the defence as further evidence of his willingness to engage with the judicial process and to abide by any bail conditions imposed by the court.
Adjournment for State Response
After hearing the defence’s affidavits and arguments, the magistrate stood down the case to afford the National Prosecuting Authority time to prepare a formal response to the bail applications. Senior State Advocate Valisha Dafel is expected to outline the prosecution’s stance on flight risk, witness interference, and the adequacy of the accused’s medical provisions during the resumed proceedings.
Ongoing Proceedings
As the matter remains sub judice, both the defence and prosecution continue to prepare their arguments. The businessman’s protected identity, the medical considerations, and the alleged four‑year investigative delay are likely to remain focal points in the bail deliberations. The outcome will hinge on the court’s balancing of public safety, the rights of the accused, and the seriousness of the human‑trafficking allegations at hand.