Cape Town - The city’s Vice Squad says it will be targeting at least 60 suspected brothels over the festive period.
In a joint undercover operation, the specialised law enforcement unit will be accompanied by SAPS members and the Human Trafficking Task Team.
This year alone, the squad shut down 13 illegal brothels.
In the past three months, 66 fines were issued with a total value of R192 500 for the running of illegal brothels and for street prostitution.
Unit spokesman Nathan Ladegourdie said the squad had prioritised the targeted establishments after they had been identified as “problematic” by residents in surrounding areas.
“The Vice Squad is at present clamping down on known problematic areas identified by the public with regard to street prostitution and brothels,” he added.
Besides the city itself, most of the women arrested came from Port Elizabeth, Joburg, Bloemfontein, Pretoria and China.
The unit has already started conducting operations to target the suspected brothels scattered across the city in both business and residential areas.
Ladegourdie said the major focus of their operations will be on “hot spots” in Wynberg, Brooklyn and Lansdowne.
Cape Argus