/ 12 February 1999

Local hookers claim the street

Evidence wa ka Ngobeni

Several foreign prostitutes have been deported from South Africa after seeking police protection from vicious assaults by their local counterparts on the streets of Johannesburg.

Prostitutes from as far afield as Russia and China are working in Hillbrow, but many have now moved off the streets and into clubs for shelter.

Rivalry over money and clients is at the heart of the conflict. Local prostitutes claim the foreigners are stealing their “customers”.

Last year other pavement workers in Johannesburg – the hawkers – also clashed with foreigners. Two Mozambican nationals were killed on a Pretoria train, allegedly by a group of unemployed locals.

South African Police Service (SAPS) representatives say a number of fearful Russian and Chinese prostitutes have moved from the streets into clubs after attacks. In a recent incident, two prostitutes from Zimbabwe were assaulted at the corner of Smit and Pretoria streets. They were badly injured when they were pelted with bricks and paint containers.

Foreign prostitutes say Hillbrow and Berea have become “no-go” areas for them: locals insist that the government deport them all immediately.

Stella Dlamini, who works the streets of Hillbrow, said she hates all foreigners, whether they are prostitutes or not.

She claims that foreigners bring dangerous diseases to South Africa. “We cannot go and be prostitutes in Zimbabwe, so why do they come here?” Dlamini asked.

She conceded that she had foreign “clients”. “I want all customers, even if they are foreign guys, as long as they pay me,” said Dlamini.

Police have established that attacks on foreign prostitutes have increased over the past year. Police representative Nati de Jager said illegal foreign prostitutes were afraid to report assaults to police as they may be deported.

A Nigerian prostitute, Tebafemi Emolowo, said she had been chased off Hillbrow streets by locals.

“I am living in fear on the streets because of assaults by some South Africans,” said Emolowo.

Hillbrow police station representative Kriben Naidoo said the number of foreign prostitutes operating on the streets has declined.

“These foreign prostitutes, like those from Russia and Taiwan, are now conducting their business in clubs and some have moved into houses in the suburbs,” said Naidoo.

Emolowo came to South Africa with her brother, who subsequently died in an accident in Yeoville. She hoped to get a job.

“My brother promised me that I will get a job in South Africa. But when I came here I did not find any job,” she said.

Emolowo earns about R100 a weekday and a little more over weekends. She was once robbed of a day’s earnings at gunpoint on Pretoria Street by a group of local prostitutes.

“They threatened to kill me if I insisted on working in Pretoria Street,” claimed Emolowo.

Hillbrow prostitute Linda Gumende says she does not believe the foreigners are a threat. “I do not think we should fight with the foreign girls because anyone who is attractive gets customers”.

Berea prostitute Thandiwe Magubane says foreign prostitutes do not respect locals. “I hate these girls. What do they want in South Africa?” asked Magubane.