The City of Tshwane has closed a well-known brothel and entertainment venue in the Pretoria CBD after uncovering extensive illegal operations, building infringements, and repeated by-law violations. The establishment, known as Ipi Ntombi, had long been under scrutiny for operating outside the law, and the latest enforcement action marks the city’s most decisive step yet in reclaiming order in the inner city.
**City Acts After Repeated Non-Compliance**
According to the municipality, the brothel had previously been shut down by authorities, but the operators — believed to be Chinese nationals — repeatedly reopened the venue within hours of each enforcement attempt. Municipal officials noted that the business had become notorious for defying city regulations, prompting the latest large-scale operation.
Executive Mayor Nasiphi Moya, who oversaw the recent closure, said the city had deployed a strengthened enforcement team to ensure the shutdown was permanent this time. She emphasised that the building had been operating unlawfully for years and that the city could no longer allow such defiance of its laws.
**Serious Safety and Structural Concerns Identified**
The city revealed multiple violations after inspecting the property. These included the absence of fire-safety certification, lack of an energy-compliance certificate, and illegal structural extensions that were built without submitting building plans for approval. Officials stated that no legitimate business licence could ever have been approved under these conditions.
Municipal building inspectors reported that the venue posed a serious safety risk to both workers and visitors. The lack of fire-safety compliance alone meant that the building could become a death trap in an emergency. The discovery of unlawfully constructed add-ons raised even more concerns about structural integrity.
Mayor Moya stressed that proper building plans are the starting point for any legitimate business application in the city. Operators of Ipi Ntombi had disregarded these fundamental requirements, choosing instead to expand their venue illegally while continuing to operate.
### **Part of a Broader Crackdown in the Pretoria CBD**
The closure comes as Tshwane intensifies its efforts to clamp down on illegal operations across the inner city. Recent enforcement actions have revealed prostitution rings, undocumented individuals working in secret rooms, and unlicensed liquor outlets operating without regulation.
During raids earlier this month, officials uncovered dozens of rooms allegedly used for prostitution, some of them linked to the same network of foreign nationals operating in the CBD. Several individuals were arrested, and more operations remain under investigation.
Authorities said they have also closed illegal taverns, confiscated counterfeit alcohol, and shut down unlawfully partitioned rental rooms. The city’s goal is to create a safer, lawful, and well-regulated environment for residents, workers, and legitimate business owners.
### **Zero-Tolerance Approach Moving Forward**
The City of Tshwane has reiterated that it will not tolerate businesses that disregard laws and endanger public safety. Officials vowed to continue conducting raids, compliance checks, and shutdowns until illegal operations are removed from the city centre.
Mayor Moya noted that restoring order in the Pretoria CBD is a priority, and businesses that choose to ignore municipal regulations will face swift and firm action.
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