A Springbok mom, accused of forcing young women to work as sex slaves, says she will plead not guilty to all the charges at the Western Cape High Court.
Leandre Williams, 37, was expected to go on trial for human trafficking yesterday alongside her husband, Edward Ayuk, and brother-in-law, Yannick Ayuk.
The trio face over 40 charges after allegedly operating a brothel in Milnerton where unsuspecting victims were forced to use drugs and work as prostitutes.
According to the indictment, Leandre is accused of recruiting her three friends from Springbok by promising them work in Cape Town, but instead forced them, along with Edward and Yannick, to use drugs.
The case, which dates back to 2014, will see the women, who may not be named yet, take the stand against her.
It is alleged that Leandre offered her friends jobs but did not clarify the nature of the work.
Once they arrived in Cape Town, they were told they would be selling their bodies for sex and the money would given to Edward and Yannick.
When the women refused they were allegedly beaten, forced to take drugs and sent to solicit clients.
While working, they would be watched closely by the brothers so they could not escape and were held captive in a house in Frank Robb Street.
It is also alleged that the brothers recruited three women from East London with the same promise.
All six women managed to escape by either reaching out to their families or police for help and the trio were arrested by the Hawks three years ago.
During court proceedings yesterday, it was revealed that there were no judges available to preside over the matter and the trial was postponed to 13 October.
Outside court, Leandre told the Daily Voice that she was granted R3000 bail last year after spending three years in the mang.
The mom of two says she has started divorce proceedings against Edward as a result of the trial.
“I was split from him for years but now I am going to divorce him,” she says.
“I will plead not guilty because I am innocent.”
She says on the day she was released from Pollsmoor Prison, she was moered and robbed by inmates.
“I was excited but then they hit me and gave me a blue eye and took all my jewellery,” she says.