According to reports, the incident began late on Thursday afternoon when a male client approached three sex workers along Todd Street. The man allegedly offered to purchase alcohol for them before booking a room where, police say, he engaged the services of all three women throughout the night.
By morning, payment negotiations turned sour. The man reportedly had only R100 on him—enough to pay just one of the women. The two others, who owed a combined R300, said they refused to be short-changed.
Speaking to local authorities, the women explained that they initially withheld the keys to the client’s Dimentro electric motorcycle as collateral, allowing him time to fetch the outstanding amount. However, after waiting several hours for his return, the pair decided to push the bike through the CBD.
Community members alerted police after spotting the unusual scene of two women struggling to maneuver the scooter along Todd Street. Officers from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) responded, intercepting the women and questioning them about the vehicle. They admitted that the bike belonged to their client and that they had taken it as compensation for unpaid services.
“The matter was unusual but straightforward,” said a police source who attended the scene. “The woman claimed the client disappeared without settling the agreed amount. While their actions may have been unlawful, they were adamant that they were recovering what was owed to them.”
The man later arrived at the police station to reclaim his motorcycle. It is understood that he confirmed parts of the woman’s story, acknowledging that he could not pay the full amount but arguing that the seizure of his bike was excessive.
The incident has stirred mixed reactions on social media, with some condemning the women’s actions as theft. In contrast, others expressed sympathy, viewing it as a form of self-enforced debt recovery. Source