Prostitutes ‘work’ under the noses of the police

Five women, admitting that they are prostitutes, daily conduct their “business” in the central business district, with the law enforcers knowing about their whereabouts.

Although there were already several pleas on national level to decriminalize prostitution in the country, the Sexual Offences Act of 1957 is still in place and selling sex is still a criminal offence.

The women, all in their thirties are “working” from a spot in Ninth Street in the Springs Central Business District (CBD).

They say most of the time they are not disturbed by the Springs police nor metro police.

They have a special space on the pavement where they sit on blankets and broken benches, waiting for their customers each day from 8am to around 5.30pm.

After being chosen by a customer they usually take them into the bushes along one side of the street.

The women say the police sometimes harass them by chasing away their clients and also taking their money.

Other times, they say, the police would take them in the police van, drive around the block and drop them at their place again.

They say they are also from time to time assaulted by some of the law enforcers.

Captain Johannes Ramphora, spokesman of the Springs SAPS says the police don’t have knowledge about the women’s allegations.

He says the police regularly patrol the area and arrest someone if they find a crime being committed.

According to Ramphora, to help these women integrate back into society where they can live without selling their bodies for money, requires the involvement of the Department of Social Development, local churches, and commitment of the women to change their behaviour.

Ekurhuleni Metro Police (EMPD) spokesman, Senior Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago admits that metro police officers are aware of these women waiting for their customers at that spot in Ninth Street.

However, he says the EMPD is not aware of any of their members assaulting, chasing away or taking money from the prostitutes.

About their plan of action against them he says: “If they are standing around there without a transaction evidently taking place, the police cannot encroach on their rights.”

He says the current tactic of the metro police is to “tactfully scare” the men making use of the women’s “services” and to prevent a crime from taking place.

Their method is to approach the men suspected of buying sex from the women.

“After a few questions from the officers, the men would get cold feet and drive off.”

He says the EMPD is also aware that the women in Ninth Street could attract criminals who would probably wish to rob or assault the prostitutes.

“Worse still, other twisted individuals could vie for their blood or even refuse to pay after receiving the service,” he says.

On the other hand the five women say Ninth Street “belongs” to them and they will protect their territory from other prostitutes thinking they can also work from here.

The women, who all live close to Ninth Street, say they ask between R50 and R150 per customer.

They did not disclose who their customers are, but say a customer has to pay for whatever he wants.

On a good day they may take home up to R1 000.

They say they do this job out of free will, but on the other hand feel they have no choice because work is scarce.

One woman with the nickname of Nomsa says she provides for her three young children – aged 11, nine and five – with the money she makes selling sex.

All her children are in school.

These five women, especially Brandy, assured the Addie that they do not use the money they make to drink or do drugs, but instead to support themselves and their families.

“We have to make a living, because times are tough”, they say.

One of the women, Lerato, says she has been doing this for a long time.

She started out at the Springs Hotel and moved to this spot in Ninth Street a few years ago.

Although they did not want to disclose their HIV status, these women believe in protecting themselves, because they always use a condom.

Their motto is: “No protection, no customer”, they assured the journalist.

They say all of them have access to medical care at the Springs Clinic.

“The clinic personnel also come here to give us condoms,” they say.