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Sex workers sue cops over arrests
By Linsday Dentlinger
The city's Metro Police and four South African Police
station commanders are being sued for allegedly
harassing, punishing and intimidating sex workers in
the city.
The Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Task Force
(Sweat) has filed the application in the Cape High
Court.
It declined to comment when approached by the Cape
Argus, saying it would release details later on
Monday.
The group is seeking an order that no member of the
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.
Sweat is also seeking an order for costs.
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 has confirmed that it will oppose the
application and has appointed attorneys to defend the
case against it.
It is now preparing its response to the application by
Sweat.
The council's safety and security committee was
informed of the impending legal action by chairman J P
Smith at its monthly meeting, but the matter was not
discussed.
Smith said on Friday that Sweat's action was
"ludicrous" and "detached from reality".
He said there was "huge pressure" from the public for
the Metro Police to act against sex workers and that
in their defence, the Metro Police would counter
allegations that its members were unlawfully arresting
sex workers.
He said the city was obliged to oppose the
application, especially Sweat's demand that the costs
of bringing the application be covered by the
respondents, as the council had a right to "protect
taxpayers' money".
SAPS director of communication and liaison Novela
Potelwa also confirmed that the police had received
notice of the application for an interdict.
"We are currently in the process of obtaining all the
relevant legal advice surrounding the matter and have
made clear our intention to oppose the application,"
she said.
This article was originally published on page 1 of The
Cape Argus on April 23, 2007
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