WHILE PORT captain in Cape Town between 1992 to 1993 and even before, as port manager for Walvis Bay, Captain Bill Shewell pioneered the concept of police-licensed 'hostesses' who were allowed to board ships to provide a range of services including cleaning and laundry. Anything else was none of my business, says he.
In Cape Town alone, there were 180 hostesses but the practice ceased when Shewell was succeeded by Captain John Woodend about seven years ago.
Malcolm Green, Cape Town's port services manager, says of the harbour's prostitutes: If you want to get in somewhere you will get in.
I have said it before; security is not great in the port and we are faced with not one but many syndicates operating. I am not saying it is the case but those syndicates could involve Portnet people, and dollars could also buy entry into most facilities within the port.
Green said his information was that syndicates were also involved in prostitution which meant that for an outsider to ply her or his trade on what was effectively someone else's 'turf' could prove a dangerous occupation.
Portnet Cape Town's newly-appointed security companies are in the process of settling in and the authority has just apppointed a new in-house security manager.
Security within the port is definitely better but it's not world class and we have to improve even further, said Green. Asked to rate port security on a scale of one to ten, he opted for six. I would like to see it at ten as security is non-negotiable. Referring to Shewell's new measures, Green told FTW:They are very creative and provide a practical solution to what is a real problem.
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