R1,000 a Week for a Room: How the Savoy VIP Lounge Exploited Foreign Women in Pretoria CBD Pretoria CBD Crackdown: Nigerian-Run ‘Savoy VIP Lounge’ Shut Down in Major RaidThe City of Tshwane’s ongoing battle against urban decay and organized crime reached a fever pitch this week as authorities shuttered the Savoy VIP Lounge, a notorious establishment operating behind the facade of a sports bar in the Pretoria CBD. Nasiphi Moya and backed by the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD), the raid uncovered a sophisticated illegal brothel that has sparked outrage across Gauteng. Upon entering the premises, inspectors discovered a labyrinth of individual rooms concealed at the back of the venue.
Inside, dozens of foreign women were found living in conditions that authorities are investigating for potential human trafficking and exploitation. According to Mayor Moya, the business model was as lucrative as it was illicit: the women were reportedly forced to pay R1,000 per week just to rent their tiny rooms. This “pay-to-stay” system highlights the predatory nature of the operation, where vulnerable individuals are milked for profit under the guise of hospitality.
The demographic profile of the occupants has intensified the debate over border control and the regulation of the inner city. All the women encountered during the operation were confirmed to be foreign nationals. While some possessed valid residency permits, a significant number were found to be undocumented, leading to their immediate detention by immigration officials.
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The establishment, reportedly run by Nigerian nationals, was immediately served with a closure notice for multiple violations, including land-use contraventions, health and safety breaches, and operating a business without the required municipal certificates. Mayor Moya has vowed that this is only the beginning of a wider “clean-up” campaign. “We cannot allow our city to be turned into a hub for illegal enterprises and exploitation,” she stated following the operation.
The closure of the Savoy VIP Lounge sends a clear message to syndicates operating in the Pretoria CBD: the era of hidden brothels and “sports bar” covers is coming to an end. Residents have lauded the move, hoping that the permanent closure of such dens will reduce the violent crime and drug peddling often associated with these unregulated spaces.
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