THOHOYANDOU - The quiet town of Thohoyandou's nightlife has been "boosted" by the increasing number of prostitutes who parade the main street of the town.

Girls between the ages of 16 and 23, most of who reside in the surrounding areas of Thohoyandou are selling their bodies to willing passers-by's to a fee and the practice of sexual promiscuity has emerged as a daily routine in our local streets.

Among these girls are foreigners, most of who are from neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe. Most of them are operating a few metres from the police station. When asked if they are not afraid of the police, they responded by saying that the police are also some of their lustful clients.

Our team received shocking results from intense investigations on this issue, when one of the girls revealed that a top official from the Thulamela municipal offices has become her daily customer. She claims that he never comes himself, but instead sends someone to pick her up.

She claims to be more comfortable with the official since he often pays her at least R100 per session. For an ordinary person who needs to pay for sex, the girls charge a standard fee of R30 with a condom and an extra R20 without a condom. "No matter who says what, prostitution should remain illegal. The practice is immoral and harmful and it degrades women. It exposes them and their lustful clients to sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and the killer disease HIV/AIDS," said a concerned resident, who didn't want to be identified.