Almost 70 ‘ladies of the night’ arrested
A record number of prostitutes were arrested in Krugersdorp and police is extremely concerned about the high demand for their services.
Krugersdorp police is deeply concerned about the large number of ‘ladies of the night’ operating in the town. Last night (9 October) 68 of them were arrested .
Brigadier Dalipkimar Baijnath, Station Commander of the Krugersdorp Police says they intensified their operations against drugs and prostitution this week, which led to the arrests of a record number of prostitutes operating in Luipaard and Sivewright Streets.
“This is a clear indication of the high demand for their services. Their clientele is on the increase and unfortunately the police is no longer in a position to fight against it – there is only so much we can do.”
He says the law prohibits them from keeping prostitutes in the cells.
“That is where the community must help us. We need community leaders such as the church and social workers to help us to get rid of the ongoing problem.”
According to exclusive information the news obtained from a reliable source within the police the clientele mostly are white businessmen.
Baijnath says if the community stops supporting the prostitutes and the drug trade in the city the problem eventually will disappear as there is no longer a demand for these services.
“But now many of the drug dealers and prostitutes are coming from other areas to work here because this is where the business is thriving. We need to start taking a stand against this,” he emphasises.
Driving along Luipaard- and Sivewright Streets, one can only wonder how property owners can allow their properties to be used for these illegal businesses, let alone allow drug dealers and prostitutes to damage the buildings to the extent that it has become dilapidated and an eyesore.
What is your opinion? Should the police ask community leaders for help in the fight against prostitution and the drug trade, or should they themselves step up their efforts to curb the trade?
Leave your comment in the box provided below.
Related article:
• Owners losing the battle against drug and prostitution trade
• Mayor’s office promises to address Sivewright crime
• Police cannot win this battle alone
Hi En nou???? Wat gebeur nou jul besef dat die meerdeheid is verslaaf? Gaan hul hulp kry of gaan die dealers weer die Boete betaal Vra net
People need to eat.
@me: Where are their “responsible” parents?
It is sad that these people are in this situation.
I always wonder why they are doing it. Think this could be an interesting research (hint hint..)
With unemployment on the increase people need to eat and feed. What are you prepared to do if your child stands in front of you hungry? Do they take drugs as a coping mechanism and get trapped? Is your family forcing you to do it so they can enjoy their bad habits?
This might sound strange and wrong. If business men are prepared to pay for their “service” then so what? They have their reasons (another interesting research! Hint hint!!) They obviously have the funds. Lets use it!
What we as a community must do is to create an opportunity for these people to get out of it. I don’t have the answers to how, but feel by just supporting the local bakes, crafts and tip some of the talented people performing on the street will rather encourage more to follow. We know that the Chinese have killed our market with their imports. Start supporting local. Use a positive to get rid of the negative.
Another sensitive statement: Legalise prostitution, this way these people can get medical aid, help and support.
I don’t think any prostitute is proud of what they are doing. So how about we stretch a helping hand rather than to criticise? What are YOU going to do??
One can never judge why they chose this profession, but I’m wondering what happens to their children now…
If Durban had to do this…they would have had triple this amount….good job done
if the law isnt working, it must be changed. Decriminalisation will enable services to reach sex workers currently alienated from assistance and allow the police to focus on crime (including crimes against sex workers, who are vulnerable)
I live in Sivewright street, and this is a huge problem! Some of the new “night” (but they are busy the whole day) ladies are just kids that can’t be older than 14 or 15! They get arrested today and all of them are back the next day. Why not keep them in the cells over week ends???
What I would like to know is, how many of these ladies were screened to see if they are trafficked victims…?? We’ve just had Human Trafficking Awareness Week in SA and yet still so little awareness throughout the country!
With regards to decriminalization of prostitution, this is not the answer for SA, not when we have such a huge pool of vulnerable people. Legal prostitution isn’t an option if it’s the only option.
A public dialogue on this topic took place in Pretoria week before last, with government departments, UNISA, SWEAT and the Special Rapporteur for Human Trafficking and Child Sexual Abuse from the Netherlands sitting on the panel. Was interesting but we need to be careful and make informed decisions when considering things like decriminalizing prostitution. We cannot slap European “solutions” into African context (on top of which, even Germany has now made a U-turn on their decision to legalize prostitution)!