Prostitutes make a nuisance of themselves

POLOKWANE – People living in Bulawayo Street in Ladanna near a house that has been dubbed “Hole in the Wall” say something must be done about the house and the activities that allegedly take place there.

According to the mother of a four-year-old, who wished to remain anonymous, it had become a regular occurrence for her to be accosted by people looking for this house. She said she and her family had to pick up used condoms and wrappers not only on the sidewalk but also in their own yard.

“I have run out of explanations to my four-year-old daughter about why she can’t play in the yard anymore. Men have been coming to my house

asking if I am a hooker. This was asked in front of daughter, and I had to explain to her what a hooker was. Something must be done about this house,” she said.

The house was dubbed Hole in the Wall because of the hole in the wall through which customers and service delivery people had to communicate with those inside.

Jason Malabelo confirmed that prostitution was taking place at the house. He said he had been referred to Hole in the Wall around June last year when he was trying to found out where he could find a prostitute. “I was told of the house, where I would be able to get the contact details of some women, and where some of these women also stood on the pavement in front of the house looking for customers. I made use of them once or twice,” he said.

On the corner of Bulawayo and Witklip Street an open field is used as a truck stop, and many of these men also used these women’s services, Malabelo said.

Review reported on this house in April 2013 when residents complained about prostitution, drug deals and drug use allegedly taking place there.

At the time the owner of the house denied that such activities took place at the house. She said she only rented out rooms, and nothing more.

Business owners in the area also said they had complained to the landlord about the women walking around soliciting customers. “These women make our businesses look bad, and our customers feel they are being harrassed when these women approach them. The police need to take action urgently,” Wynand Langeveld, one of the business owners affected, said.

Review contacted the house owner for comment again last week. However the owner refused to make any comment and both she and her partner were hostile towards the journalist when requested to state their side of the story.

Westenburg police spokesperson, Capt. Mohlaka Mashiane said the police had noted that prostitution was taking place in several areas of Ladanna, and were also aware of the house in question.

He said the police would investigate the new complaints received, and he urged men not to make use of these women’s services.