Page 4 People’s Post Lansdowne
NEWS
Tuesday 29 March 2011 READ ALL ABOUT IT: The con sulgeneral of India, Mridul Ku mar (right), recently presented text books and other educa tional materials to Mountview High School in Hanover Park and the International Islamic School in Lansdowne. The con sulate says it attaches great importance to human resource development through quality education and capacity build ing, and places particular em phasis on underprivileged sec tions of the society with no ac cess to lowcost appropriate education and text books. Pic tured with the consulgeneral is Mountview High student Mon ieq Petersen.
Unit tackles prostitute hotspot TAMMY PETERSEN
P
ROSTITUTES have been lying low after sporadic operations by the City of Cape Town’s Vice Squad in Lansdowne in response to a host of complaints from frustrated locals. Over the long weekend, R3 600’s worth of fines were issued. Nathan Ladegourdie, the assistant chief of the squad, says various prostitution hotspots across the city were targeted, but that Lansdowne had proven “problematic”. “Lansdowne had the second highest number of sex workers after Milnerton. Our investigations revealed that all the women who were approached by our members were from Hanover Park, and between the ages of 20 and 39,” he explains. Officers observed the activity between Wetton Circle and Joanne Road, from where, it is believed, most of the women operate. “Those who were identified as prostitutes were issued with fines for importuning and requested to leave the area. Their information was also added to our profiling system, where we keep records of women who have been accused of prostitution.” He explains that a first time offender is given a R500 penalty; a second offender a R1 000 fine, and a third offender a R1 500 fine. Thereafter, the woman is given a summons to appear in court. An additional fine of R500 may also be given for disorderly conduct and not obeying the instruction of
an officer if the woman refuses to leave. The profile is used as a reference to how many prior fines the prostitute has received, as well as the personal particulars of the woman. Other areas that received special attention were Milnerton, Bellville, Goodwood, Wynberg and Claremont. A Joanne Road resident, who asked not to be named, says she is “seriously impressed” with the manner in which the “streets were cleaned up”. “I felt like hugging each and every one of these officers for removing these women from our streets. ILLREPUTE: While Lansdowne Road appears qui Lansdowne has be- et during the day, women can be seen loitering come synonymous on the side of the busy road. Photo: Tammy Petersen with a red light district, and I would like to see us lose we will never tolerate their presthis negative image. These women ence.” are an embarrassment to every resAn elderly man from Phyllis Way ident who lives here, and I hope says he and his wife once threw a they never come back.” bucket of water at a woman after Resident Joey Dyer from St she tried to “service her customer Joseph’s Road says many have the in (his) driveway”. misconception that the prostitutes “They are starting to act like they only wear miniskirts and come out own the place. They prefer to at night. prance up and down our quiet “This is utter nonsense. Some of streets until someone picks them them dress like people who sit in up. I’ve chased one down the street board meetings and act like they with a broom in the middle of the are waiting for a taxi. But we know night too. I won’t let someone sell exactly who they are and they know their body in front of my house.”
Drunk driver knocks down teen at Waterfront VERNA VAN DIEMEN
A FRENCH national has appeared in court after knocking down a teenage girl as she walked along a pavement at the V&A Waterfront. The 17-year-old from Hanover Park is in a stable condition at Groote Schuur Hospital, according to hospital spokesman, Alaric Jacobs. Steven Dagan appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court for drunken driving last Friday. It is believed that Dagan lost control of his Volvo at the Waterfront City Lodge on the corner of Dock and Alfred roads on Friday around 04:00.
Cape Town Central police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Khunjulwa Sam, says Dagan’s passport was revoked and he was released on bail of R2 000. Sam could not confirm the date of Dagan’s next court appearance. “We took tests at the doctor which confirmed that the man had consumed a lot of alcohol,” she said. “We are still waiting for the docket to come back from court before we can reveal his bloodalcohol level.” Sam said police have conducted 54 vehicle checks in the vicinity of the accident since January.
Intoxicated motorists nabbed TWELVE men were arrested for drunken driving on Saturday night during a joint operation between Lansdowne police and the Metro Police. Officers were waiting for motorists driving under the influence on Lansdowne Road, Wetton between 21:00 and 03:00. Warrant Officer Robert Lakey, the spokesperson for Lansdowne police, says all the arrests were made between 21:00 and midnight.
“The suspects were taken to the police station and held until 08:00 the next morning so that they could sober up. “They were charged with drunken driving and served with notices to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on 27 July.” He adds that the early hours of the next morning were “quiet”, and that no other drivers were found to be intoxicated.