SUMMERSTRAND - PE BUSINESSWOMAN FACING CHARGES OF RUNNING A BROTHEL AFTER SEX WORKER GANG-RAPED

A PROMINENT Port Elizabeth businesswoman is facing charges of illegally operating a brothel in Summerstrand after a sex worker renting a room at a house was allegedly abducted, gang-raped and robbed at the weekend.

Humewood police only discovered the alleged brothel over the Easter weekend following the violent attack on a 27-year-old KwaZulu-Natal woman.

She arrived in Port Elizabeth last week, and booked into an accommodation establishment in Admiralty Way on Friday.

Yesterday, police top brass and detectives went to the house and questioned “tenants” who confirmed they were sex workers.

The house, on the corner of Tenby Street, opposite Cape Recife High School’s entrance, is owned by the Naidoo Investment Trust.

Trustee Perapanjakam Naidoo – who also runs a guesthouse in Summerstrand and rents out rooms at the Admiralty Way address – has denied any knowledge of a brothel.

She is the mother of model, businesswoman and TV presenter Shashi who, in 2011, beat the likes of Angelina Jolie, Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera to clinch FHM’s sexiest woman in the world title.

During an interview with detectives, the alleged rape victim admitted she was a prostitute and had come to Port Elizabeth looking for work.

Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the woman claimed she had been woken up at about 2am on Friday.

“According to the woman, she was wakened by a knock at her door,” the spokeswoman said.

“When she opened, she was forcefully removed [from the room], blindfolded and taken to an unknown place.

“The woman alleged that she was later gang-raped by four men and dropped off at an unknown place. Police were alerted and she was picked up.

“The woman’s cellphone and bank card were stolen. Money was withdrawn from her account.

“A case of rape and kidnapping is being investigated.”

One of the sex workers, who declined to be named, said they were charged R500 a room per day.

Each room was shared by two women.

“I am from Johannesburg and my friend and I came to Port Elizabeth because there is more business and less competition here,” the 32year-old said.

“We have been living and working from here for four months now.

“The other rooms are occupied by other sex workers, but they mainly work here and live somewhere else.

“On a busy day, we have more than 10 clients each and on other days fewer than five.”

According to the woman, she and a friend were the only ones who both lived and worked at the house.

“The other girls come and go. I would say almost all the people who book into this place are in this line of work,” the woman said.

The manager of the property initially denied knowing anything about sex workers, but admitted later to knowing about them.

It is understood some of the sex workers make up to R40 000 a month.

Shortly after the incident, police took one of the tenants in for questioning.

“It is believed the robbery was coordinated by one of the other women who live and work inside the house,” one official linked to the case, who cannot be named, said.

“She was taken in for questioning but released later due to insufficient evidence.”

Police spokeswoman Naidu confirmed a woman had been taken in for questioning but released later. Officials said about R5 000 had been withdrawn with the alleged kidnap victim’s bank card at a tavern in New Brighton after attempts to draw money at an ATM had failed.

“They [the abductors] then dropped her off in Walmer. The woman originally didn’t want to open a case,” the official said.

“Only after interviewing the woman was it established she was one of several women working in the house.”

According to police, the woman had seen several “clients” while at the accommodation.

“So the other girls and their pimps were well aware she had money on her,” the official said.

“The other girls were allegedly upset because this woman had more clients than them.”

The house has six bedrooms which are rented out for R500 each a day.

Naidoo, who also runs Access Guest House in Seventh Avenue, Summerstrand, denied the Admiralty Way house was a brothel, saying she mainly rented to foreign graduate students.

“I need the police to guide me [as to] what to do. This is the first I am hearing about it,” she said.

“I am shocked. They must open the dockets and come and guide me.

“We mainly have students that live there. If they are sex workers, I did not know.”

Naidoo said she had tenants from East London, Durban, Johannesburg and other centres.

“What am I meant to do? Must I vet everyone wanting to rent a room?

“I have personally met these girls and others that live there – I would never have thought they were sex workers.

“They claim to be students,” she said. Asked how she thought the women could afford to pay R500 a day per room, or R250 per person sharing, Naidoo said: “I don’t know. I thought their parents or someone was paying for it.”

Humewood police station commander Brigadier Ronald Koll, who was at the house yesterday, said a case relating to charges of operating a brothel was being opened.

“These places operate under the main auspice of renting out units to either students or self-catering visitors,” Koll said.

“We have confirmation this one is being used by sex workers.

“The reality is this not only devalues surrounding properties but also brings criminal elements into the area.

“This latest robbery and attack is an example of this.”

Koll said detectives would consult with the municipality with regard to the possible violation of bylaws and building regulations as another flatlet was also being built.

“We will also liaise with the SA Revenue Service to assist with the investigation into the owner,” Koll said.

via - heraldlive.co.za