LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR - Ruyterwacht bure at odds over alleged brothel in the area

TENSIONS are running high in Elizabeth Street in Ruyterwacht, where residents are at odds over an alleged brothel. 

One resident, who wants to remain anonymous, said that she regrets moving into the area because of what she perceives as being a problem house, but the tenants say her claims are false. 

She told the Daily Voice: “Apparently there are two other brothels in the area, but I am only aware of this one, which is illegal. 

“I have studied this property, watching the activities that go on and came to the conclusion that this property is being run as a brothel. 

“There are people coming in and out the whole day for about an hour.

“I started noticing cars pulling up non-stop. I did some research of my own and started watching them. 

“That is when I realised they have this place up as a guesthouse, but it’s a brothel. 

“Weekends are the worst…

“We need this place to be shut down because there are children and they cannot be exposed to this. “This place is being operated by foreigners, who are not the property owners. 

“They are disturbing us a lot and they are very noisy with cars hooting outside, doors being slammed during the early morning hours, women are coming with men just for an hour then they go.”

When the Daily Voice arrived at the premises, two tenants laughed off the allegations, saying they are completely false.

The tenants said: “We are aware that they think we are running a sex house, but it is not true. There is one neighbour who has a problem with us. “Anything that we do she has a problem. Even if we play gospel music or the children are playing outside then she has an issue.

“We are different tenants who live here and rent out the rooms, some tenants are working and others are at school. 

“This is a made-up story because we have had people come here to investigate from the municipality. 

“When we do have visitors it is our family and friends who pull up in cars, I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

Ward councillor Christopher Jordaan said that the allegations have been brought to his attention but the matter is being investigated.

He revealed: “The gentleman came to my office [on Tuesday] morning to say that there is a brothel in Princess Elizabeth Street, I sent it on to the department for investigation and will send out the Environmental and Building Inspector to verify if it is a brothel and serve a notice.

“I went there to check if there is a brothel, a lessee came who is leasing the property from another person who is not even the owner of the property. “We want to get to the owner of the property as a city so we can make a determination on this.”

Alderman Eddie Andrews, the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, said a 30-days compliance notice was issued to the property owner and tenants on 9 February 2026.

He said: “The City is aware of the situation. The Land Use Enforcement team has received a complaint and is currently addressing the matter. 

“The property is currently occupied by tenants only. The City issued a 30-day compliance notice to both the property owner and tenant on February 9 2026, regarding an unauthorised guesthouse.”

Wayne Dyason, the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement Spokesperson said that the City’s Law Enforcement Department will conduct an on-site visit to investigate the matter.