Kimberley - A large police contingent on Wednesday raided a house believed to be operating as a brothel, in the upmarket suburb of Royldene.
Cash, flavoured condoms, sex toys such as vibrators and 19 cellphones were among the evidence collected at the six-bedroom house in Groote Schuur Avenue.
A client was left red-faced in the driveway and was only able to leave after his vehicle keys and cellphone were returned to him by the police.
Three women, aged 22, 27 and 30 years, who are originally from Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal, are reported to have lived and worked in the house.
They were apparently expected to comply with certain rules, including washing themselves twice a day. A percentage of their earnings had to be paid over to their employer.
A domestic worker, who resides in Jacobsdal, was employed for housekeeping and cleaning purposes, while a supervisor was charged with collecting the payments and booking appointments.
Clients had to sign a register as well as state their nationality before services were rendered.
It is also believed that the sex workers also advertised their services in local newspapers.
The going rate was R350 for half an hour, R450 for a full hour and R1 900 for “all night long”.
Neighbours in the area have been complaining about an unusually high number of vehicles stopping at the house, as well as disturbances at unacceptable hours of the morning.
“There were no fixed working hours and at 2am men were trying to get the attention of the ladies by hooting,” residents living in the area said.
They saw a foreign national being dropped off at the house, only to be collected later, while others appeared to be regular visitors.
“Some stay for an hour, others longer. We would be glad if the brothel is closed down because it brings down the value of other properties in the neighbourhood,” they said.
One resident has video footage of men, of all races, entering the house, while he had apparently threatened to inform their wives of their shenanigans.
Some neighbours were shocked after the police raided the house.
“It is disgusting and sick that this was happening here, right under our noses.”
While prostitution and the purchase of sex are still considered to be a sexual offence, the matter has been handed over to the Hawks to decide whether any charges will be investigated.
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