Dispute over ownership of ‘sex worker house’ in Tzaneen
The dilapidated and seemingly abandoned house on the corner of Agatha and Pienaar Street across the Greater Tzaneen Municipality’s (GTM) office, is allegedly used by sex workers offering their services.
The house is situated amid a popular spot for sex workers in Agatha Street and the Herald has learned from a reliable source that they have turned it into their “place of work”. The house looks abandoned and unmaintained from the outside with an overgrown yard, broken doors and windows. The words, ‘’come come mpeteng’’, translating to “come come to bed”, and “R100” is written on the wall of the house.
The abandoned building is also used as shelter by homeless people during the winter months. On two occasions the Herald has witnessed a man committing sexual acts by himself on the verandah in full view of residents. A few years ago, the Herald reported on an incident of a woman walking her child to Tzaneen Primary School when an unknown man pounced on them from the house.
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The man tried to grab the child from the mother, fortunately others came to the rescue of the mother and child. The man ran away and could not be found. The house is rumoured to be the property of the GTM, but when the Herald enquired from the GTM, media liaison officer, Vutivi Makhuvele, said it belongs to the Department of Public Works.
At the time of going to print on Tuesday, Witness Tiva, spokesman of the Department of Public Works, could not confirm if the house belongs to the department and what the future plan for the house is. Tzaneen Police Station spokesman, Sgt Maurice Nkhwashu, admitted that they know about the house, but did not have any records of criminal acts in the building. He urged residents who know of criminal activities in or around the house, to report it to the police.
