A convicted pimp from Milnerton who was found guilty of trafficking women from the Springbok and Eastern Cape to work as sex slaves in Cape Town was sentenced to 335 years in eat

Dramatic scenes unfolded in the Western Cape High Court on Friday as Edward Ayuk began tjanking after being slapped with five life sentences for his horrific crimes.

Edward along with his cousin Yannick Ayuk have been in custody for over seven years after being arrested by the Hawks for running a brothel in Brooklyn in September 2017.

The two went on trial in November 2021 alongside Ayuk’s estranged wife, Leandre Williams, in what has been called the biggest human trafficking case before a local court.

The trio faced more than 40 charges, including rape, kidnapping, drug trafficking and assault.

During the grueling trial, several victims were flown in from their hometowns to take the stand, testifying about drug abuse, beatings and working the streets.

Williams, who was on bail, took the stand in his own defence, alleging he had trafficked Springbok women.

After the state rested its case, defense counsel, attorney Bash Sibda, successfully argued for an acquittal of 27 of the charges against Yannick.

After they were convicted, Williams turned on the father of her children and confessed to doing it milled and sold women, claiming that she too was a victim, but was too loud to speak.

In her lengthy judgement, Alma de Wet explained that while she could find no compelling reason to refrain from the minimum sentence prescribed for Edward, it was clear that Yannick, while running the brothel in Edward’s absence, had not violence towards him. victims.

De Wet said: “One of the first things Accused 1 (Edward) did was make them smoke rocks (crack cocaine).

“This was part and parcel of his tactics to manipulate, coerce and intimidate them into doing his bidding.

“The applicants were defenseless victims who were subjected to abuse of the worst kind.

“They were treated like objects and stripped of their dignity as human beings. They were treated like commodities by the accused for their greed for money and power.”

De Wet sentenced Edward to five life terms for each count of human trafficking, 15 years for living off the proceeds of prostitution, 10 years for each count of kidnapping, 10 years for assault and a further 10 years for tampering with documents. identity.

At this, an emotional Edward burst into tears, crying, “Jesus Christ! What have I done?”

He was taken out of court and could be heard screaming as police tried to comfort him and get him back into the courtroom.

Williams received 20 years for three counts of human trafficking, while Yannick received 20 years for human trafficking, using the services of a prostitute, kidnapping and other charges.

Williams was seen blowing kisses to her family in the public gallery as she shouted: ‘You brought the fool? Don’t worry, God is still alive.”

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