On the 22nd of September 2022, TikTok user and brand influencer, Namolinah took to the popular platform to alert fellow users as well as women about a potential human trafficking syndicate looming particularly around the larger recreational areas such as Sandton City, Mall of Africa and Menlyn Mall where the incident happened. 

 

Namolinah explains that she noticed a man following her and waited for her to leave the shop that she went in to. The unidentified man had his phone in hand, and it is unclear what he was doing with his phone. She proceeded to alert security of the incident. 

 

“They found the guy so quickly, once I showed them the video and the pictures, they were able to identify him and get him.  After the security guards got him, they escorted me to Woolworths and I purchased a brand-new outfit, new shoes and I got a dress. I don’t know if it is a syndicate where he sent pictures of me to other people” said Namolinah. 

 

After posting this video, many other female users spoke out about their experiences with the same man at different mall across many cities such as Eastgate, Woodlands, Joburg CBD, Woodlands and Parkview. What is now clear about his modus operandi is that he does not work or travel alone. 

 

They alert each other once a potential victim has been identified and go up to them to ask for money as an entry point. 

 

A frustrated Namolinah took to the platform once more on the 1st of October 2022 to state that there was a falsely written article by IOL journalist, Jolene Marriah Maharaj which mentioned that the general manager of the mall, Nisha Kemraj, claimed that the victim chose to not press charges and resumed shopping after the incident and a day later scripted her video.  

 

“The Menlyn mall security never offered to call the police and they never advised or encouraged me to open a case. Nisha states that I continued with my shopping. This is false. I went to Woolworths as it was the closest store to the security office where I purchased a dress and shoes” explained Namolinah 

 

She continues to provide an audio of the conversation with her and the security guards as well as receipts, time frames as well as a screenshot showing that she, in actual fact, did open a case. 

 

To listen to the audio and follow the chain of events, click here: 

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMFFAdwfn/