What began as the viral story of one young woman, Lerato Molwelang, is turning day by day into a national-scale scandal in South Africa. Anonymous posts and heated discussions on social media, especially on X and in private groups, claim that Lerato was far from an isolated case: dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of young South African women are said to have taken part in filmed sessions for the site “African Casting,” a pornographic platform specialising in explicit “auditions.”
According to these accounts, which have been circulating widely in recent days, most of the women involved come from Thembisa, a township east of Johannesburg marked by high unemployment and economic hardship. Full name lists are being openly shared, often accompanied by accusing or mocking comments. Among the most frequently mentioned names are:
- Palesa Mofokeng
- Thandeka Mkhize
- Zanele Dlamini
- Refentse Molefe
- Ayanda Khumalo
- Naledi Sekgobela
- Buhle Ndlovu
- Karabo Phiri
- Sinenhlanhla Zungu
- Nomasonto Cele
- Tebogo Madiba
- Lindiwe Shongwe
- Refilwe Motloung
These posts claim that the women’s videos are freely accessible on the site, with faces and bodies fully visible.
A System Dating Back Three Years
The most shocking aspect, according to the viral posts, is the length of time this has been going on and the method used. It reportedly began about three years ago with a woman named Nomvula Radebe, described as the “first.” After participating in a session, she allegedly received enough money to buy a Samsung J9 smartphone—an purchase that raised eyebrows in her circle at the time. Instead of warning others, she reportedly recommended the “opportunity” to a friend, who then did the same with another, creating a quiet chain of recruitment.
“They went one by one, thinking it was a secret,” wrote one widely shared user. “But what secret? The videos are online—everything is visible.”
Lerato Molwelang S3xtape: P0rn Audition, Alleged Exploitation, and the Debate Rocking South Africa
Private Lives Turned Upside Down
The scandal takes an even more dramatic turn when posts mention the personal situations of some participants: at least three are said to be married, and others in serious relationships. “Imagine your wife telling you she’s going to work, when she’s actually heading to African Casting,” reads one post that has been shared thousands of times.
Though unverified officially at this stage, these revelations are fuelling waves of moral judgment, public shaming, and cyberbullying. Some families are reportedly only now discovering videos that were recorded years ago, leading to breakups, community ostracism, and personal tragedies.
A Phenomenon Far Beyond One Individual Case
Beyond the named individuals, online discussions claim that “thousands” of young South African women appear on the site, often recruited through deceptive ads on Instagram or Facebook promising legitimate modelling castings. What was initially seen as an isolated scam increasingly looks, to many users, like a structured network exploiting economic vulnerability and lack of opportunities.
For now, no official response has come from authorities or the platforms involved. The debate continues to rage: between those denouncing organised exploitation and those emphasising individual responsibility, the affair once again highlights the dangers of too-good-to-be-true promises on social media and the irreversible consequences of videos released without genuine long-term consent.
To be continued… as each day brings new names and new revelations.
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