Municipal spokesperson, David Magae, said the municipality obtained a court order to demolish the houses situated at Rustenburg East.

"The court order was issued to the municipality after the registered owners of the three properties did not contact the municipality as prescribed by law, when the municipality had identified the properties as problematic," he said.

"What is a serious concern to the municipality as it relates to the three properties, was the use of each as a drug den, as well as locations where sex trade took place with the participation of vulnerable females, where a concoctive drug known as nyaope had been discovered during previous operations."

He said among other issues, for which the houses were flagged, was tampered electrical and water meters, which were bypassed.

The municipality has cleared the rubble to ensure the safety of neighbouring houses and to ensure that the sites do not attract would-be criminals.

"The demolition of the properties is in line with the city’s safe and clean campaign which aims to ensure that Rustenburg becomes environmentally friendly while ridding itself of rogue elements, perpetrating different criminal acts. Today’s activity was a joint operation between the municipality’s various directorates and the SAPS [SA Police Service]."

Acting mayor Lucky Kgaladi commended the work done by all officials and stakeholders, which culminated in the demolition.

"Rustenburg is today safer as these three houses have gone to ground. We have now decreased the number of problematic houses in the city, where many lives had been destroyed," said Kgaladi.

In July 2018 the municipality issued a 14-day notice to three homeowners to avail themselves or face charges relating to the demolition of their houses.

The houses were part of 12 houses torched after allegations that they were being used as brothels and drug dens in January 2018.

Taxi operators in Rustenburg waged "raids" on properties occupied by foreign nationals, whom the operators at the time claimed were using the houses as dens for drugs and prostitution. This, after a taxi driver died in hospital after he was allegedly stabbed by nyaope addicts in December 2017.

ANA