A SPECIALISED counter-human trafficking and brothels task team, swooped down on three suspected brothels in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, arresting a suspected owner and confiscating various items of forensic interest.
The joint operation was beefed up by the Pietermaritzburg Tactical Response Team, SAPS members, Provincial Cyber Unit, Asset Forfeiture Unit, Local Criminal Record Centre, Home Affairs and Msunduzi Municipality.
A woman alleged to be the owner of one of the suspected houses, was taken into custody and charged with keeping of a brothel and living off the proceeds of crime.
Laptops, documents and receipts were among physical evidence collected from the scene.
Eight suspected brothels have been closed down since the establishment of the KZN Human Trafficking, Prostitution, Pornography and Brothels Task Team (HPPB), of which the Zululand Observer is in media partnership.
Presenting a recent training workshop for local police, prosecutors and NGO’s, Advocate Dawn Coleman-Malinga, said Richards Bay should follow suit to deal with brothels and traffic houses operating in the City under the guise of guest houses.
During a presentation on human trafficking, it came to light that a Bay pensioner was harassed and pressured by an estate agent to sell a large property to foreigners as a ‘bed and breakfast’.
Others reportedly witness scantily clad women picked up and dropped off at all hours of the day and night at various houses and complexes.
Advocate Coleman-Malinga however says neighbours are far from helpless.
Cases should be reported to the municipality and the police.
‘If two neighbouring properties serve notice on a home owner that his or her property is suspected of being used for prostitution, the owner is deemed to have had knowledge of the situation.
‘The property can be seized by the Asset Forfeiture Unit and declared forfeited to the State, should a successful prosecution follows.
‘A rental agreement for property used as a brothel, is void and ‘tenants’ can be evicted immediately.’
