Cape Town sex workers are suing metro police and four police-station commanders for allegedly harassing and intimidating them, the Cape Argus reported on Monday.
It said the Sex Workers’ Education and Advocacy Task Force (Sweat) had filed the application in the Cape High Court.
Sweat declined to give immediate comment, saying it would release details later.
The group is seeking an order that no member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) or the metro police may arrest sex workers for an ulterior motive.
Through affidavits from prostitutes, Sweat alleges in its suit that sex workers are being unfairly detained by police, especially from the Wynberg, Woodstock, Claremont and Sea Point stations, and are then harassed and intimidated.
They claim they are being arbitrarily stopped and searched because they are known to police officers.
Sweat wants the court to issue an order restraining the SAPS and metro police from these actions.
The minister of safety and security and the national commissioner of the SAPS are cited as first and second respondents, followed by the station commanders of the Wynberg, Woodstock, Claremont and Sea Point police stations and the City of Cape Town.
The city said it would oppose the application, and was preparing a response. — Sapa