The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Friday, March 17, 1967 — An African woman was yesterday fined £50 (or three months) by Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Jack Riley, for running a brothel and soliciting men for immoral purposes.

Mr Riley told the woman, Francis Makheto: “I will not dwell on the immorality of such action or the nuisance it causes. But I hope this case has brought home to you that such work does not warrant the gamble you take.”

Makheto was cautioned and discharged on another count of living in a European area — an offence under the Land Apportionment Act — and acquitted on a charge of living off the immoral earnings of a prostitute.

In his judgment, Mr Riley said that witnesses told the court that Makheto had approached two plainclothes police officers and asked them to come to a house at 88 Grey Street, where, they were told, there were two young women “with their own rooms and beds.”

The policemen left, went on Mr Riley, but a watch was kept on the premises.

Between January 3 and February 4 more than 40 European men visited the premises for varying lengths of time. On February 4 police raided the house.

Makheto’s daughter, Gladys Francis was found “in circumstances of immorality” with an Indian man, said Mr Riley. The accused was in another room in the house.

“Under these circumstances, it is reasonable inference that the premises were being used as a brothel and that Makheto was fully aware of it,” the magistrate said.

Makheto pleaded not guilty to all charges.