NEWCASTLE – Schools are meant to be places of learning and development.
But thanks to prostitution on Bird Street, teachers at a local primary school fear their pupils might have a broader education than they hoped.
Related article: Prostituting pride – a mother’s plight
As it is, the area behind Klein Spoortjies Pre-Primary is in a right state.
Employee, Thulani Kunene described having to clean up used condoms, soiled toilet paper and other refuse as disgusting.
“I have to put on my gloves and clean this every day.”
Mr Kunene explained ‘ladies of the night’ and clients frequented overgrown areas behind the school, venturing nearer after hours.
He was even forced to chase them away a few times.
“All races of men use these prostitutes.”
The CBD is no stranger to prostitution-related problems, and the migration of such activities from York and Paterson streets has affected such areas similarly.
Instead of the infamous park, prostitutes and clients frequent more secluded locales.
Mr Kunene said he once walked down Bird Street on a lunch break, and was offended by the sexual offers from a woman he believed to be a lady of the night.
He found this highly offensive.
“I’m a married man, and when I turned her down, she tried to insist.”
Teachers also expressed their upset at the situation.
In a response to these reports, members of SAPS Corporate Communications confirmed members would be dispatched to the area to investigate.
“[These cases] can be reported to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. FCS is based in Madadeni.”
