Police in Beit Bridge have raided several shebeens and brothels in Dulibadzimu suburb, arresting 11 suspects during a routine border clean-up exercise in the border town.

The local police spokesperson, Supt Mzamo Bhebhe, said the operation, which started on Friday last week, was mainly targeting operators of unlicensed drinking places, criminals, smugglers and prostitutes operating from brothels. “We have launched an operation wherein we are mostly targeting shebeens and brothels, which are the main places frequented by criminals. In fact, the aim of the operation is to fight crime in the border town and as police we will not rest until sanity prevails. Most of the criminal activities happen at such places,” he said.

“We have arrested a total of 11 suspects, most of whom are shebeen operators, and they will soon appear in court for contravening a section of the Liquor Licensing Act.”

Bhebhe expressed concern over the proliferation of brothels in Dulibadzimu suburb, saying they were working in conjunction with Beit Bridge Town Council in fighting the trend.

“You will also note that some of these notorious criminals use brothels as havens, which is why we are also raiding such places. The local authority has offered us a vehicle, which we are using in ferrying suspects during night raids,” he said.

Several houses in Dulibadzimu have been turned into brothels, with the owners cashing in on the high demand for accommodation by commercial sex workers.

Meanwhile, a shop owner in Lutumba, about 23km out of Beit Bridge, lost grocery items worth more than R20 000 when unknown suspects broke into the premises. Bhebhe said the incident occurred on Monday (August 2) at night.

“The owner closed her shop the previous day and, on arrival the following morning, she discovered that the shop had been broken into and grocery items worth R 20 080 looted. She then reported the matter to us,” he said. Bhebhe said the suspects were still at large.

“We are appealing to members of the public to assist us with information that might lead to the arrest of the suspects,” he said.

The incident comes barely a month after two unknown armed men descended on a shop at Lutumba Business Centre, where they robbed the owner of R750 and two cellphones worth R1200 at gunpoint.

The suspects are still on the run.