THREE men who were arrested in 2012 for human trafficking and running a brothel in Rochester Road, Point, have been convicted in the Durban Regional Court.
On Monday, Sandile Patrick Zweni, Nonduzo Dlamini, and Bhabha Dubazini, were sentenced to 85 years in prison for running the establishment, Inn Town Lodge, with girls as young as 12 years old.
Zweni was sentenced to 315 years for his 39 convictions, but with several of the sentences running concurrently he will only have to serve 35 years. Dlamini was sentenced to a total of 304 years for his 38 charges, but his effective sentence amounted to 25 years and Dubazini’s total sentence amounted to 250 years, but his effective sentence amounted to 25 years.
The men were found guilty of racketeering, running a brothel, sexually exploiting minors, living off the earnings of prostitution, human trafficking for sexual purposes and dealing in cocaine. Zweni and Dlamini were also convicted of kidnapping, while Zweni was convicted of rape and assault of a minor.
Zweni was the mastermind behind the prostitution ring that operated for about 10 years from the Inn Town Lodge, owned by Dr Genchen Rugnath and his wife Ravina.
The Rugnaths were also accused of being involved, but were acquitted.
