On 30 January, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) released over three million pages of documents that revealed correspondence and financial transactions between convicted sex-offender and American financier Jeffrey Epstein and several high-profile individuals. The documents – which include several email chains, text messages, internal investigative reports, news articles, bank statements, wire transfer records, flight logs, and FBI interview summaries – detail how wide-reaching Epstein’s social and financial circle truly was. It ultimately exposed how some of the most powerful individuals in the world were involved in orchestrating arguably the largest sex-trafficking ring in history. The transgressions of Epstein and his associates were initially presented as crimes exclusive to the West. However, the files reveal that Epstein’s network reached deep into our backyard, with emails revealing South Africa as a point of interest for Epstein and his colleagues. Email chains also detail a link between Epstein and former president Jacob Zuma.
Epstein seemed to be interested in employing individuals from South Africa for an unspecified reason. In September 2011, Epstein sent an email asking a redacted individual if they knew a South African manager that could run his six houses. Later, in November 2011, Epstein wrote an email to another unknown individual, asking them to find him a South African assistant. Epstein’s search for South African employees was seemingly successful as an email regarding travel plans detailed that Epstein would be accompanied by a South African personal assistant.
Additionally, a couple from Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape had been employed at Epstein’s home on Little St James – a private island owned by the sex offender in the US Virgin Islands. Cathy and Miles Alexander were employed at Epstein’s home for eight years from 1999 to 2007. During their employment, it seems as though they fulfilled housekeeping duties and acted as managing director of the island respectively. In an interview with Sunday Tribune, the couple denied that they had any knowledge of or involvement in the illegal activities that took place on the island. Mr Alexander even detailed that records were kept on guests and that, to his knowledge, no guests had been recorded as underage. The couple detailed that they simply managed the island, even supposing that the illegal activities had taken place after they had resigned from their positions and left the island. However, within the newly-released files, an alleged victim details that the couple had witnessed the abuse, providing that they were paid handsomely to observe everything. The couple vehemently denies this.
Epstein seemingly viewed South Africa as a prime location to recruit victims, having several contacts that would supply him with pictures and profiles of South African girls that were interested in what they thought was international modelling. The sex-offender made frequent use of a “scout”, described in an email as a “recruiter of girls and/or women for J. Epstein”. In a chat log, the “scout” described Cape Town as a place where the “potential of girls was huge”. In another email, the disgraced financier conspired with an undisclosed contact about “acquiring” an unnamed 24-year-old South African man. The anonymous contact was particularly interested in having the South African man appear at his birthday party.
One of Epstein’s most vocal victims is Juliette Bryant, a model and first-year student at University of Cape Town when she was trafficked back in 2002. Bryant was 20 years old at the time. In interviews with Sky News and NewzRoom Afrika, Bryant details that she had met Epstein in Cape Town and was introduced via a model “recruiter”. Following their meeting, Bryant eventually found herself on a flight to the Caribbean, organised by Epstein, under the impression that she was on her way to a modelling shoot. However, she reports being sexually assaulted by Epstein on this flight. She further explained that during her time on his island, she was not trafficked to other men, but she was raped by Epstein repeatedly.
Bryant explained that she felt psychologically trapped, because even after being returned to Cape Town, she found herself on more flights to Epstein’s properties in New York, Palm Beach, Paris, and New Mexico, where she claims to have met women and underage girls from Brazil, Romania, France, and Spain. It should be noted that Byrant feared for her family’s safety, concerned that Epstein would use his network of high-profile associates to cause them harm if she protested. Bryant has been able to speak out regarding her traumatic experiences following Epstein’s death, even receiving financial compensation from his estate.
Finally, former president Jacob Zuma was mentioned in an email chain in the files. The emails, dated on 4 March 2010, detail a “friend of Jeffery Epstein” arranging a dinner for the former president at a hotel in London. One email provides that a “beautiful Russian model” was in attendance, her appearance specifically requested by Epstein. It should be noted that Zuma was on a state visit to the UK from 3 to 5 March 2010. The Jacob Zuma Foundation provided a comment on Zuma’s appearance in the files, saying that the Daily Maverick’s report of the email chain is agenda-driven and built on innuendo, third-party emails, and guilt by association. The statement goes on to say that the emails reveal no improper conduct committed by Zuma, and that the Daily Maverick’s report is simply an attempt to smear Zuma through this newly found connection to Epstein. The statement concludes by providing that the Jacob Zuma Foundation will no longer discuss the matter.
Epstein’s influence was far reaching. He was able to conglomerate a global network of colleagues that contributed to and participated in his crimes. Despite our land’s perceived global insignificance, South Africa was unfortunately unable to avoid the predatory claws of Jeffrey Epstein and his intermediaries.
Visual: Daniel Green
