Karoo farmer convicted of human trafficking and rape

Louis Stephanus Lategan, a 42-year-old farmer from Xamdeboo in the Eastern Cape, has been convicted by the Makhanda High Court for human trafficking, rape, and assault. Between 2020 and 2023, Lategan used Facebook advertisements and employment agencies to recruit young women, aged 18 to 24, under the pretense of au pair positions to care for his children.

Prosecutors established that the job offers were a cover for sexual exploitation. Victims reported being lured to his remote Karoo farm, where they were often given alcohol or drugged substances that left them incapacitated. The court found Lategan guilty of six counts of human trafficking, five counts of rape, and multiple counts of assault. This included three counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm against children aged 11 to 13.

In addition to the violence against the women and children, Lategan was convicted of assaulting adult farm workers and the unlawful possession of ammunition after police discovered over 200 rounds on his property. The investigation into his activities began in 2023.