Authorities in Tshwane have uncovered a string of illegal operations in the city’s inner CBD, including a brothel on Bloed Street.
The discovery came during a by-law enforcement operation led by Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya, as part of the city’s efforts to restore law and order in the capital.
Dr Moya took to social media to reveal that they found dozens of rooms inside the building being used as offices to sell sex.
It is also detailed that many of the women discovered on the premises were reportedly undocumented and allegedly forced to hand over a portion of their earnings to the operators of the brothel.
“We are conducting a by-law operation in the inner CBD of Tshwane. This is a brothel located on Bloed Street... What we’ve found are dozens of rooms used as offices to sell sex. Many of the women we’ve found here are illegal and pay a share of their income to the operators of this brothel,” said Moya.
She added that 34 people working at a nearby sports bar were arrested for being in the country without documentation.
“We found several people hiding on the rooftop of this sports nightclub, which is an illegal establishment. The people we found hiding had no documentation for being in South Africa. We are determined to root out any form of criminality, one by one,” Moya added.
Alderman Hannes Coetzee, the MMC for Community Safety, also confirmed the closure of several shops due to non-compliance during the operation.
“We just completed a special by-law operation in the CBD and found a place with about 100 rooms where young girls are used as sex slaves. The owners are foreigners, and a very large amount of liquor was also confiscated. Arrests have been made, and some shops were shut down for non-compliance,” said Coetzee.
He further highlighted similar issues in other parts of the city, noting that some illegal operations, including makeshift car washes and unregistered rental rooms, continue to exploit municipal services without paying the city.
“In Operation Pretoria West, we found 20 illegal rooms rented out for R2 500 each, along with a hair salon and car wash operating in a residential area. These places use illegal electricity connections and even streetlights for power. They make up to R100 000 per month but don’t pay the city. We will be shutting them down,” Coetzee said.
Meanwhile, the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) confirmed that it conducted multiple operations across the city over the weekend.
On Saturday, November 8, 2025, TMPD members in Region 2 Sector 2 carried out a crime-prevention operation targeting illegal immigration and arrested 32 undocumented immigrants for contravening Section 49(1)(a) of the Immigration Act, 2002.
In another operation, Tshwane District Operation Shanela, also held on November 8, officers stopped and searched numerous vehicles on Doreen Road, targeting drunk driving and other offences.
“A total of 60 individuals were arrested for various offences. Among them, 23 suspects were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, eight for drinking in public, and 29 for being in the country illegally,” the TMPD confirmed.
It is revealed that the arrested suspects have been detained at local police stations as Tshwane intensifies its crackdown on illegal activities and non-compliance in the city.
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
Saturday Star