Max Hamata
Security guards at some Hillbrow hotels have been accused of murder, assault and torture of sex workers, demanding protection fees and sexual favours from them, and bribing police officers.
In the past two weeks, at least 15 sex workers have left the Hillbrow Inn, Ambassador and Maxime hotels, claiming security guards expected sex and protection fees from them. “Once you fall out of favour with the security guards, then you must brace yourself for a tough time,” said Zonda Magdalena Mahlayi (19), who is deaf in her left ear after being beaten by guards at the Ambassador.
Mahlayi said Hillbrow’s police officers are in cahoots with the guards as they are offered free drinks and sex.
The sex workers say strict dress codes apply at the hotels. “We are fined for petty crimes such as wearing caps, and for visits from our boyfriends. And when you refuse to participate in fashion shows, or if you break a glass, you are fined up to R140,” said 16- year-old Priscilla Mathebula (not her real name).
“If you can’t afford the fine, you are handcuffed and whipped by the security guards. But still … you are expected to pay the fine,” said another worker, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. “But how do you attract customers with a swollen face, in order to [make money to] pay the fine? We are left with no other option but to render a service with painful muscles and wounds.”
If sex workers fail to pay the R45-a-day rent, they are fined. “If you can’t pay the fine, your clothes are impounded,” said Mathebula. “Sex workers sometimes had to work overtime in order to make enough for the fine.”
But a Maxime representative said: “We only encourage them to dress better. We do not force anyone to participate in modelling shows … These people do not work for us. I just sell bedrooms to them.”
He denied fines are imposed on sex workers who fail to pay their rent, but admitted the hotel impounds belongings. “Impounded goods are … returned to them if they pay their rent.”
Nozukho Ndlovu’s clothes were confiscated by the Ambassador. She claimed she booked out when she left for a holiday. “When I came back I found my bill inflated to R3 000. They kicked me out, confiscated my clothes and threatened to beat me if I do not pay. Where do I get the money if I don’t have a room to make business?”
Mahlayi alleged she injured her left leg in May when she was handcuffed with a Nigerian client, beaten with a truncheon and whipped for breaking a window. “They [security guards] do not even ask what is wrong. They just beat you and threaten to shoot you. These people play with guns just like toys.”
Maxwell Nthembu, a former night shift manager at the Maxime, was allegedly shot four times in the head two weeks ago after challenging a security guard he believed was too rough with sex workers. But the hotel’s representative, who asked not to be named, denied Nthembu was killed for sympathising with the sex workers. He said “a personal squabble” resulted in the shooting.
“I do not exactly know what happened. There are numerous stories about this incident and I have left that matter to the police for investigation,” he said. “Hillbrow is full of thugs and it is necessary for us to employ tight security. One of my security men’s nose has been bitten off by a Nigerian thug, and now he has to undergo plastic surgery.”
Josef Linders, a client of one of the women at the Hillbrow Inn, claimed one of the guards shot at him. He said the guard lost his temper when he broke a wine glass. “I was sharing a joke with one of the sex workers, and the glass fell on the ground. When the security guard was called, he ran berserk and refused to take my explanation. He threw me out of the hotel. As I was about to get into my car he fired several shots at me, but fortunately I escaped unhurt.”
Johannesburg police Inspector Mark Reynolds said several cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm have been laid against Hillbrow Inn guards. “The statistics do not reflect an accurate situation … they are just operational statistics,” Reynolds said, adding that most of these crimes go unreported because sex workers fear they will be arrested.
He appealed to sex workers to report police who collude with the guards. “[They] will be dealt with severely. At the moment we cannot act on the basis of allegations.”