Pretoria CBD brothel busted as officials uncover dozens of foreign women in hidden rooms
City raid exposes alleged trafficking ring at CBD lounge as foreign Women found inside.
Image: Nasiphi Moya
A suspected brothel operating in the Pretoria CBD, in Gauteng has been shut down following an inspection by City authorities and the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD), according to mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya.
Moya said officials uncovered the operation during an inspection of an establishment known as the Savoy VIP Lounge, which she said was concealed behind a sports bar.
"We've found another brothel. This one operated by Nigerian nationals," she said.
She said that dozens of women were found inside individual rooms at the premises, which were allegedly being rented out on a weekly basis.
"They rent the rooms for R1,000 a week," Moya said.
According to Moya, all the women encountered during the inspection were foreign nationals, with some in possession of valid documentation while others were not.
She added that the establishment was closed following the joint operation with TMPD.
Writer and journalist Pinky Khoabane welcomed the intervention, describing it as a critical step by local government.
"This is important work by the City of Tshwane. Closing brothels is necessary. But it's also important to understand that these spaces aren't just 'brothels' they are often sex trafficking sites," Khoabane said.
Khoabane, who works with survivors through the organisation Defending Dignity, said many women are lured to such establishments under false pretences.
"In our work at Defending Dignity, survivors tell us they come here seeking legit work," she said, adding that trafficking is sustained through strict control mechanisms, including the confiscation of identity documents, restricted movement and the creation of debt through rent, drugs and alcohol sold by brothel operators.
She warned that the issue extends far beyond individual premises. "Human trafficking is a global pandemic and Gauteng is a major destination and transit hub," Khoabane said.
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