Forgotten souls: Inside the struggle to support women trapped in Durban’s sex trade

Walking the streets of pain and resilience

For more than two decades, Vashti Toms has been a constant presence on Durban’s streets, a witness to stories most prefer to ignore. As co-founder of eXpose HOPE, Toms has dedicated her life to women trapped in the sex industry many coerced, exploited, or forced by circumstance.

Originally from the UK, Toms arrived in South Africa 22 years ago and immediately encountered a reality that shocked her: homeless shelters filled with women whose survival depended on the sex trade.

“There was no support for them and their children,” she recalls. “I started helping however I could buying toiletries, sanitary pads, and collecting second-hand clothes from friends.”

Week after week, she returned to the same streets, building trust in an environment where trust is scarce.

“For 10 years, I did this alone, going to Durban’s Point Road every week to meet them where they were,” she says.

Trauma, control, and heartbreak

The work is far from easy. Women are often controlled by men who claim ownership over them or by the grip of addiction. Trauma keeps them trapped, and Toms carries the weight of each story.

One story, the murder of 20-year-old Siam Lee in 2018, still haunts her. Lee was abducted, assaulted, and killed near New Hanover. A businessman, Philani Ntuli, was arrested but died before trial, leaving justice unfulfilled.

“Her murder broke me on so many levels,” Toms says. Yet despite the heartbreak, eXpose HOPE continues to show up.

“We show up without judgement, we love them exactly where they are in their journey,” she explains.

Debunking the myths of choice

A common misconception is that women in the sex industry choose this life freely. Toms and her team see otherwise: economic hardship, abuse, family breakdowns, and trafficking often push them into these spaces.

“The vast majority are trapped, not choosing this,” Toms says.

The organisation meets women where they are providing meals, basic necessities, and, above all, human connection. Every week, they navigate some of Durban’s most dangerous areas, keeping the fragile trust they’ve built.

Liza Moroney: amplifying voices of the forgotten

Alongside Toms is Liza Moroney, whose on-the-ground experiences echo the same urgency.

“These ladies are the forgotten souls, thrown to the gutters,” Moroney says. “Judged continuously without anyone asking why they are on the streets.”

Her stories illustrate the subtle, insidious nature of trafficking: promises of call-centre jobs, casino work, or even church placements can end with women trapped in brothels.

“It doesn’t have to be dramatic, like shipping containers,” she explains. “It can happen right in front of your eyes.”

Risk and courage in action

Moroney recalls urgent rescues that required courage and quick thinking. In one case, a woman trapped at a client’s home was retrieved with the help of a gatekeeper willing to intervene.

“He could have done anything to me,” she says. “He let me take her without problems. We swooped her up and raced away.”

Not every intervention is this clean. Mental health crises and violent outbursts are frequent. On Esther Roberts Road, Moroney recounts sitting for hours with a woman in psychosis, ignored by passersby, eventually guiding her to safety.

“The saddest part is that the community drove past her all day and did nothing,” she reflects.

Poverty, deception, and systemic failure

Poverty, unemployment, family dysfunction, and lingering impacts of HIV/AIDS are often exploited by traffickers. The ‘loverboy’ method grooming through emotional manipulation is a common tactic.

Yet, amid the darkness, eXpose HOPE emphasizes persistence, love, and trust. They recognize that change is gradual, and victories are measured not just in rescues, but in relationships strengthened and hope restored.

Meeting humanity head-on

In Durban, these women are not statistics or stereotypes; they are daughters, mothers, and sisters navigating unimaginable hardship. eXpose HOPE’s work highlights the human stories behind the crisis, insisting that society see them as individuals worthy of care and dignity.

“On our streets, where many look away, we continue to step forward,” Moroney says. “Every story deserves to be seen, heard, and ultimately changed.”

Through trauma, danger, and heartbreak, the women of eXpose HOPE walk with the forgotten souls of Durban showing that even in the darkest corners, steadfast presence and compassion can make a difference.