24/07/2025
Behind the Guest House Gates: A Story of Exploitation, Fear, and Silence
“He said if she aborted, he’d kill her.”
These are the words of ’Masechaba's mother (not her real name), whose daughter was sexually exploited.
‘Masechaba is a 31-year-old woman who was sexually exploited by her boss — a man known in town for his businesses, and feared for the power he wields behind the scenes. She already had a child when she left home in search of work. Her second child, born from that ordeal, just turned one.
What first seemed to be a decent job, turned out to be a continued nightmare, not just for her, but for many others trapped in a system of fear, corruption, and alleged trafficking.
In October 2023, ’Masechaba was desperate for work when a friend told her about a housekeeping job at Khune Village in Welkom. The opportunity came through a chain: a colleague’s cousin had mentioned the job to the colleague, who then told ’Masechaba’s friend. Although the friend had been approached first, she recommended ’Masechaba instead, as she was unemployed at the time.
With nothing but a blanket, ’Masechaba left Lesotho and caught a ride with another lady going for the same job. They were told food and transport would be provided, though it would later be deducted from their salaries. A man, arranged by the employer, picked them up in Maputsoe and handed them over at Khune Village — a move she now believes was part of a larger human trafficking operation.
Upon arrival in Khune Village—a liquor establishment connected to a ‘guesthouse’, things quickly turned dark. ‘Masechaba and the lady she arrived with were separated. She was told she’d earn M2,500 monthly, but would be borrowed anything she needed , which would later be deducted from her salary with a steep 35% interest.
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“He said if she aborted, he’d kill her.” These are the words of ’Masechaba's mother (not her real name), whose
