The Hawks arrested a teacher who is allegedly linked to human trafficking in East London on Wednesday. Image: Supplied.
(The Post News) – A 52-year-old East London schoolteacher was arrested on serious charges of sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and operating an illegal brothel after the Hawks’ prolonged investigation found that she allegedly recruited and forced young women from the former Transkei region into prostitution.
Provincial Hawks spokeswoman Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said that the teacher reportedly recruited young women from Qumbu, Mthatha, and Ngqeleni, among other towns. The victims were allegedly taken to the suspect’s home in East London, where they were “forced into prostitution.”
According to preliminary investigations, the victims paid several clients to have sex with them. The Hawks described the teacher’s alleged significant financial gain from these acts.
“The suspect supposedly profited from these illegal activities by charging accommodation fees ranging between R250 and R300 per night, depending on the room,” Mhlakuvana stated. Furthermore, it is alleged that the teacher either personally collected the proceeds from the victims or instructed them to transfer the funds directly into her bank account.
The woman is expected to appear before the East London Magistrate’s Court today, Thursday, October 16, 2025, to face the serious charges.
Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, the Hawks’ provincial head, praised the investigative team’s hard work. In his statement, he affirmed the Hawks’ unwavering commitment to fighting organised crime, saying they are “committed to dismantling organised criminal networks that prey on vulnerable individuals in the province.”
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