Heidelberg – In a case that has left South Africa reeling with shock and disgust, high-profile lawyer Carel Schoeman has presented a bizarre and disturbing defense in the Gauteng High Court. Schoeman, who stands accused of buying a 13-year-old girl from her mother and keeping her as a "sex slave," has claimed that he did not "buy" the minor, but rather paid her mother to "remove her from the sex trade."
The trial, which has been ongoing for several weeks, has laid bare a harrowing tale of exploitation, abuse, and the betrayal of the most vulnerable. Schoeman faces 26 serious charges, including multiple counts of rape, human trafficking, kidnapping, sexual exploitation of children, and the creation of child pornography. His co-accused, the minor’s own mother, faces 72 counts for allegedly pimping out her two daughters and selling one of them to the lawyer.
On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the court heard Schoeman’s latest attempt to justify the R160,000 payment he reportedly made to the mother. The State argues that this was a "purchase price" for the 13-year-old girl, who was then taken to Schoeman’s home and subjected to repeated sexual assaults. Schoeman, however, maintains that he was acting as a "saviour."
“My client’s version is that he saw a child in a desperate situation and wanted to help,” his legal team argued. “He paid the mother so that the girl would no longer be forced into sex work by her family. It was an act of charity, not a criminal transaction.”
This defense has been met with fierce condemnation from prosecutors and child rights advocates, who argue that it is a cynical attempt to rebrand a horrific crime. The State has presented evidence showing that after the payment was made, the girl was not placed in a place of safety or reported to social services. Instead, she was allegedly kept in Schoeman’s house, where she was subjected to what the prosecution describes as a "living nightmare."
The testimony from the victim’s mother has been equally disturbing. The court heard how she reportedly spent a R25,000 "down payment" on luxury items, including lingerie, perfume, and expensive meals, while her daughter was being exploited. The mother has pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming that she too was a victim of circumstances and that she believed Schoeman would provide a better life for her child.
The case has sparked a massive outcry across South Africa, highlighting the dark underbelly of human trafficking and the exploitation of children. The fact that one of the accused is a member of the legal profession has added a layer of outrage, with many calling for the harshest possible penalties if he is convicted. The Law Society of South Africa has also been under pressure to take action against Schoeman, who has continued to practice law for much of the investigation.
Evidence presented in court has detailed the "contracts" allegedly drawn up between Schoeman and the mother, documents that the State says are nothing more than "bills of sale" for a human being. These documents reportedly outline the terms of the "arrangement," including the payments and the conditions under which the girl would be kept. The clinical and legalistic nature of these documents has been described by the prosecution as "the height of depravity."
The victim, who is now 15, has provided testimony in camera, describing the horrific abuse she suffered at the hands of the man who claimed to be her "saviour." Her accounts of being raped repeatedly and forced to perform sexual acts for the camera have left even seasoned court officials visibly shaken. The psychological impact on the young girl is said to be profound, and she is currently receiving intensive counselling.
The trial has also shed light on the systemic failures that allow such exploitation to happen. Questions have been raised about why the girl’s situation was not flagged earlier by schools or social services, and how a high-profile lawyer was able to keep a minor in his home for an extended period without raising suspicion. The case has become a rallying cry for better child protection measures and a more robust response to human trafficking.
As the trial continues in the Gauteng High Court, the defense’s "saviour" narrative is being systematically dismantled by the State’s evidence. The prosecution has pointed out that a true saviour would have contacted the police or child welfare, not paid a mother for "access" to her child. The clinical details of the financial transactions and the forensic evidence from Schoeman’s home tell a story that is far removed from an act of charity.
The "Sex Slave" lawyer scandal has become a landmark case in South Africa’s fight against child exploitation. It is a grim reminder that monsters do not always lurk in the shadows; sometimes, they wear expensive suits and hold positions of trust in society. As the nation waits for the final verdict, the focus remains on the brave young girl who survived this ordeal and the hope that her testimony will lead to justice.
For now, Carel Schoeman remains in the dock, his bizarre defense hanging in the air like a bad smell. The quest for truth and accountability continues, with the eyes of the public firmly fixed on a courtroom that has become the frontline in the battle for the soul of the nation. The final outcome of this trial will be a significant moment for the country’s legal system and a test of its commitment to protecting its most vulnerable citizens. The world is watching, and the demand for justice is louder than ever.
