My passions in life are women, Africa, and the arts. Alongside my career in the entertainment industry, I trained and have been working within the activism space, empowering women and creating awareness on abuse. I did my training through http://www.powa.co.za over fifteen years and I made the decision that I would use my public persona and brand to raise awareness on abuse and issues pertaining to women. My activism spreads from board level to being physically on the ground as a volunteer, to writing blogs and speaking engagements to connecting people to organisations for support, safety, and counseling. I often use social media as a platform to express my concerns, share knowledge and information on our rights as individuals and often help survivors with counselling and support.
A few days back, I noticed a number of posts on Twitter under the hashtag #Moloko To give some background information, over a decade ago I was a very social person and at one stage I supposed I was considered a party girls and I used to frequent a number of night clubs with my fiends. Moloko, a night club in Johannesburg was such an establishment, in fact, one year, I even threw a birthday party there. I grew to know the owner and management and many a nights my girlfriends and I would have a great time. So when I see that the Name Moloko is trending on twitter, I automatically became interested.
The first post that I noted was written by Mona Monyane- Skenjana. I have known Mona for many years as an actress whom I have the hugest amount of respect for. Her and her husband, Khulu Skenjana, are proudly African and astute professionals and I value their judgement and comments.
The post read: “Boycott Moloko! This can’t keep going on. No damn way. My friend could’ve been gang-raped or murdered they wouldn’t let her out the apartment, she literally had a nervous breakdown screaming & crying and that’s when they released her. Drugged by the waitress even,”
As I began to investigate, there seemed to be a number of other women sharing the same sentiments. I then contacted a number of people asking if they would be willing to share their stories, anonymously. I have managed to get comments from a few people and somebody who has worked at the nightclub before. I automatically contacted the club management through Stephan Cohen and Monty Denelane. I sent a text to the cell number on their social media pages and I received a response. I have pasted it below.
On receiving the correct email address, I emailed the management a few questions based on the remarks, comments, and allegations from my sources.
I also received a phone call from Monty, prior to their email reply and he did state that should anyone have relevant information, the club is willing to participate in an investigation. He also said that he urged Mona and Khulu to contact them and discuss a way forward.
The replies to my questions. Please note that although there is a disclaimer in their email, they are well aware of the fact that I would use the content for my blog.
Hi Rosie
It is apposite to state that we are an establishment which has operated for 8 years in Pretoria (longest standing nightclub) and enjoy a positive reputation for our professional approach to entertainment. While we refute any claims of any form of illegal activity in our establishment, we are extremely committed to assessing any complaint and/or allegation with an intention to uphold consumer safety as well as our good name and reputation.
We invite anybody with any information of illegal activity to share such with us as we work hand in hand with law enforement to uphold the law in our course of business.
Please could you answer the following questions:
1. What is your position at the club?
Club Management
2. Is it true that your staff, security and management pimp (sell off) out your female patrons to your wealthy clientele?
This allegation is wholly untrue and no such activity has ever been reported both to ourselves and/or the local authorities responsible for policing the area in which our establishment is located.
3. Is it true that the female patrons are encouraged to dress provocatively?
Please provide clarity on this question.
4. What is the reason behind your lingerie themed parties?
We host various themed parties based on suggestions from our patrons and creative team. Themed parties are aimed at enhancing our nights as the clubbing can become mundane by virtue of repetition of concept.
5. Is it true that when inviting young girls to your club they are informed on what to wear and or look like?
Our club does not permit access to women under the age of 18 as per legislative requirement. Nobody is instructed as to what they ought to wear to our club barring ordinary dress code restrictions e.g. Heels etc.
6. Do your waitresses take home approximately R9k a night whilst your hostesses take home approximately R300?
We are not at liberty to discuss the salaries of our employees as this is private. We are able to confirm that waitresses and waiters income fluctuates depending on tips which they are liable to earn in the course of their duties. Hostesses unfortunately do not enjoy same workload or opportunity.
7. In your staff meetings have you ever referred to drunk female patrons as sluts or whores?
No.
8. If girls are seen drunk or out of hand, what is your company policy in terms of protecting them?
Where any patron is seen to be too intoxicated, they are requested to leave the club with the people in their company provided there is a sober enough party to take accountability. In the absence of such person, patrons are provided with water in the kitchen and assisted to make contact with next of kin or Taxify or Uber or proper safe transportation arrangements made for them and their friends,usually they travel in groups.
9 Have any of your bouncers or manager helped girls get into strangers cars or led them to spare apartments?
Our bouncers assist patrons by opening doors for them to their mode of transport, whether it be their own cars, cab hailing services or general pick up’s. As a premium nightclub this is consistent with industry practice for any patron utilising transport within the vicinity of the entrance of the establishment.
10 Have any female patron ever reported to your management that they suspected their drinks were spiked? If so how was the matter handled?
We have never received any such complaint from a female patron. Any allegation communicated with our management would ordinarily be thoroughly investigated wit —– Message truncated —– —
If anyone needs assistance with opening a case or requires healing and counseling, please note the following organizations are available:
http://embracedignity.org.za
If you do not believe that sex trafficking is not a real and a scary issue, then watch this video and listen to the grueling story if Griselda Grootboom.
Facts on Sex Trafficking in SA: What is Human Trafficking?
Definition:
Human Trafficking is defined in the Trafficking Protocol as “the recruitment, transport, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a person by such means as threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud or deception for the purpose of exploitation.”
Different types of trafficking
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), human trafficking generally takes one of two forms: trafficking into labour and sexual exploitation. But other more specific forms of trafficking include domestic servitude, forced marriage, child soldiers, forced begging, forced criminal activity and organ trafficking.
Who are traffickers?
Traffickers can be any age, gender, ethnicity or nationality. But the UNODC 2014 report states that 72% of people convicted of human trafficking are male. In many cases traffickers are related to or are close acquaintances of those they are exploiting.
How much money is made from human trafficking?
The International Labour Organisation estimates that globally, a staggering R1.9 trillion is generated from illegal human trafficking each year. Two-thirds of this profit is derived from sexual exploitation and the remaining third from forced labour.
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Sex Trafficking in South African clubs. My passions in life are women, Africa, and the arts. Alongside my career in the entertainment industry, I trained and have been working within the activism space, empowering women and creating awareness on abuse.