Staff Reporter 12 Feb 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. 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.
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. 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. 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. Hillbrow police station representative Kriben Naidoo said the number of foreign prostitutes operating on the streets has declined.
Emolowo came to South Africa with her brother, who subsequently died in an accident in Yeoville. She hoped to get a job. Emolowo earns about R a weekday and a little more over weekends. Hillbrow prostitute Linda Gumende says she does not believe the foreigners are a threat. Berea prostitute Thandiwe Magubane says foreign prostitutes do not respect locals. What do they want in South Africa? Create Account Lost Your Password? Toggle navigation Toggle profile. News Local hookers claim the street Staff Reporter 12 Feb 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.
