Durban man faces R100 000 blackmail threat after 'secret, adult' phone recordings

A DURBAN man claims he was blackmailed for R100 000 after his personal conversations were allegedly secretly recorded by a member of the Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre (ICCC) following an indenture conference in South Africa, last year.

When his wife discovered the inappropriate conversations and asked him to end contact, the situation escalated into blackmail threats to make the more than 70 phone call recordings “go viral”.

The scandal has led the 1860 Indentured Labourers Foundation (1860ILFV) to to formally disassociate itself from the international organisation.

The man, who did not want to be named, alleged he had been targeted by a member of the ICCC following a conference in South Africa to commemorate the 165th anniversary of the arrival of indentured labourers.

In August last year, the 1860ILFV and the 1860 Indian Arrival to Natal Local Organising Committee (LOC), in partnership with the ICCC, which is based in Trinidad and Tobago, hosted the “International Indentured History Conference and Indian Diaspora Tour of South Africa” in Durban.

Following the three-day conference where research papers were presented on the history of the Indian diaspora, visitors from across globe such as Canada, Holland, India, and Mauritius, among other places were taken on a tour to various sites including the 1860 Heritage Centre.

The man said during this time, he volunteered his time by assisting with transportation for two members of the ICCC. 

“The conference and tour spanned 10 days, and during this time I developed a ‘friendship’ with the both of them, who were supposedly principal members of the ICCC. After they left South Africa, we remained in contact. However, the woman and I regularly communicated through Whatsapp messaging and phone calls. For example, I  would send her pictures if I attended an event and she would do the same. 

“The conversations later became quite personal, somewhat of an “adult” nature at times. However, I am married and my wife was not happy with the frequent communication and asked me to stop, which I did. However, the woman continued to message and call, that is when my wife intervened and contacted her. 

“However, that is when everything went bad and the attempted extortion started. She called my wife and said that if we did not pay ‘R100 000’, she would make our messages and calls - which she recorded without my knowledge, ‘go viral in South Africa’. There were over 70 phone call recordings that she sent to my wife,” he said. 

The man said despite ignoring the messages, phone calls have continued. 

“Everytime we blocked a number she called from, another number would be used. We have recorded about 20 different numbers. In addition to this, banking details were sent to us to pay the money. My daughter also tried to intervene and was thereafter harassed.

“I believe I fell into her ‘honey trap’ and after doing my own investigations I learnt I am not the only victim of an extortion attempt. I have since approached the foundation and I am hoping that they can assist to end this torture. She also needs to be exposed so that this does not happen to any other person,” he said. 

The man added he had not pursued legal action. 

In a letter to the 1860ILFV, the family of the late Jaisingh Surujbullee Singh, have since dissociated themselves from the ICCC and the conference. 

Jaisingh Surujbullee, was a founding member and served as the president of 1860 ILFV until his death in August last year, shortly after the conference and tour. 

Anand Jayrajh, the newly-elected president of 1860 ILFV, said: “At a special general meeting, based on certain critical information placed before it, it was unanimously resolved that the foundation disassociates itself from the ICCC and the conference held in August 2025.”

The LOC declined to comment. 

Despite several attempts to get a comment from the woman, she did respond at the time of publication. 

Dr Kumar Mahabir, chairperson of the ICCC said: “The Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre is not involved in any form of attempted extortion. This is a serious allegation which should be taken to the police.”

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