Police outside the front entrance of the alleged brothel in Vernon Road, Musgrave.

A 10-year-old girl was removed by police and the Department of Social Welfare from an alleged brothel in Vernon Road, Musgrave, on Monday.

During the police raid, the owner, three women and the child were found in a locked bathroom, police said.

The girl’s father, a 38-year-old man, and his 27-year-old wife were arrested and charged for keeping a brothel.

Provincial police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, said police raided the premises after concerns were raised about minors being exploited.

Zwane said police discovered that the house was being used as a brothel.

He said the couple was issued with a summons to pay R1 000 each for admission of guilt and were released.

An undercover policewoman (left) and a social worker lead a 10-year-old girl (yellow T-shirt) to a police vehicle near the house that was allegedly being used as a brothel.

The girl was taken to a place of safety by the Department of Social Welfare.

Zwane said two other women in the house had also been questioned before being released. The two women had told police they had been assaulted by the man.

A police source said the Social Welfare Department had told them there was a young girl on the premises.

Berea police station officers kept the house under surveillance and cars were frequently seen entering the premises and leaving after an hour.

During the raid, police had to jump over the wall because no one answered the door. They had searched the rooms but could not find anyone. They checked in one room and found the en-suite bathroom door locked. After forcing open the door, they found the alleged brothel owner sitting on the toilet and three women in the bath with the young girl.

Neighbours, who were too afraid to be named, described why they had been concerned.

“All you would see were these fancy cars going in and out of the house which is monitored by surveillance cameras,” they said.

One resident said the young women never left the house.

mpume.madlala@inl.co.za