COMPLAINTS about an alleged brothel in Essex Road, Umbilo has prompted Umbilo SAPS to assure residents that they are taking the matter seriously and will follow up with them on progress made.
At a meeting last week, concerned residents met with ward councillor Mmabatho Tembe, Umbilo SAPS, members of Bulwer Safety and Urban Regeneration Forum (BSURF), Glenwood Commwatch and the Umbilo CPF.
Tembe said residents on Essex Road had contacted her and called for the meeting. “The residents have had enough of the alleged brothel and brought the matter to my attention. They are infuriated as this property and ‘business’ is right on their doorstep,” she said.
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Irate residents have also contacted Berea Mail to raise the issue and explained that the property in question had previously been owned by an elderly lady who had no living relatives and who passed away last year.
A resident said: “For the past few weeks it has been occupied by various ladies walking in and out in the middle of the night and returning with males throughout the night. We also see these girls standing in Esther Roberts Road during the day. We fear the house has become a brothel, it is completely unsavoury and illegal. In addition, it is rumoured that drugs are sold on the premises, although I can’t attest to that. It is really scary.”
Councillor Tembe said she had invited Metro Police to the meeting, but they had not attended. Tembe said she had read out an email sent by Metro Police on what they were doing to address the problem.
“Enforcement is key here, as this is essentially an enforcement issue. Umbilo SAPS explained what they were going to do to take this forward. BSURF has been dealing with this and other brothels in the area, and at the community meeting on 13 February, general brothel issues and prostitution will be discussed. I encourage people to attend this meeting as the more information that is supplied to Metro and SAPS, the better,” she said.
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Tembe said residents are angry that nothing has been done to date about the problem. She said Umbilo SAPS resolved to do more to ease the problem and to give more accountability to residents regarding progress.
“They have said they will follow-up on progress. The building was raided last week and residents expressed concerns because they received threats which they reported to the police. Residents are being proactive in getting something done, and I encourage more residents to do so,” she said.
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