Durban – The trial of a doctor, his wife and three others on human trafficking and related charges was postponed by the Durban Regional Court on Tuesday.

Dr Genchen Rugnath, his wife Ravina, and three other people are accused of human trafficking and of running a brothel where children as young as 12 were kept.

The other three are Sandile Patrick Zweni, Nonduzo Dlamini and Bhabha Dubazini.

All five have pleaded not guilty to 156 charges, including assault, rape, sexual exploitation of a child, and racketeering.

Rugnath owns the Down Town Lodge and the Inn Town Lodge, where the alleged offences took place.

On Monday, State witness Yvonne Dudu Shinga told the court prostitutes would leave Ragnath’s hotel when staff were informed that he was about to visit.

Shinga said the prostitutes, who were known as “Sandile’s girls”, would leave the hotel reception and would stand on the corner of the road next to the premises of a neighbouring business.

Shinga worked as a receptionist at Rugnath’s hotel, in Durban’s Point area.

The State asked for the postponement to allow it to re-examine Shinga after cross-examination finished early.

The trial continues.

– SAPA