Brothels in for a brawl with the law

IF you want to stop the trade, you have to destroy the market.

That is why the police and National Prosecuting Authority are going after those who pay for sex, lease out brothels and live off the earnings of prostitution, to name a few troublemakers heading for a clash with the law.

According to State Advocate Dawn Coleman Malinga, prostitution in all forms is illegal in South Africa under the Sexual Offences Act and that position has never changed.

The Prevention and Combatting of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Act, compounds trouble for traffickers regardless of where in the ‘value chain’ they feature, because chances of wriggling out of the net through holes in the legislation, are down to virtually zero.

Advocate Coleman Malinga and Hawks’ Lt Abby Dyanand, were training local police and prosecutors on stringent legislation against human trafficking, when Lt Dyanand said they want to catch the big fish and the small fry.

Armed with the potent TIP act, this is not an idle threat, as law enforcement can deal a perpetrator a financial deathblow and life behind bars.

‘Clients’ who pick up prostitutes from numerous brothels around town, heading for Naval Island, Bay Hall or other popular locations, can thus expect a rap on the window if caught with pants around their ankles.

And, if the lady is a volunteer and not a victim, assets obtained with money from her trade, can be declared forfeited to the State.

Whether using the services of a traffic victim or a prostitute, the client is in trouble.

Drug houses and brothels freely trade everywhere as bed-and-breakfasts, but owners are a municipality’s notice away from the grasp of the Asset Forfeiture Unit.

The municipality can serve notice on the owner that the house, yard, backyard, shed, tent, vehicle, boat or space is used as a brothel and that the State intends to institute prosecution.

If the owner takes no action, he risks forfeiting his property to the State.

Any lease agreement is null and void if the premises are used as a brothel and the owner can immediately apply for summary judgment to kick out the lessee.

For more on Human Trafficking click HERE