A Nigerian man and a South African woman accused of trafficking a Zimbabwean woman appeared in court in Cape Town on Monday.
Nduibuisi Okafor, 34, and Molapo Lebogang, 33, are charged with transporting the woman from Johannesburg to work in the sex trade.
They were arrested by Cape Town's vice squad and the Hawks' anti-sex trafficking unit at a house in Milnerton.
A Hawks spokesperson said Lebogang was alleged to have recruited the Zimbabwean woman in Johannesburg, where she was struggling to find work.
The accused allegedly trafficked her to Cape Town and forced her into prostitution. In spite of assault and threats to her life, the woman is said to have fought back and escaped.
Speaking to TimesLIVE outside Cape Town Magistrate's Court, the couple's advocate said he did not believe the state had a prima facie case against his clients, who had been due to apply for bail.
The pair will remain in custody until their bail application goes ahead on April 17. An Ibo translator was provided for Okafor during Monday's proceedings.
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