Facebook (SWEAT)
The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, facilitated a sex workers dialogue in East London on Thursday afternoon.
This dialogue comes after the approved publishing of the Criminal Law Sexual Offenses and Related Matters Amendment Bill of 2022 for public comment on the 30th of November.
In the ongoing fight to decriminalise sex work, the Department of Social Development saw it fitting to facilitate this discussion with sex workers, civil society and religious groups to better understand the lived experiences and hardships of sex workers.
On this vibrant occasion, sex workers braved their fear of being recognised, speaking out on how law enforcement and clients terrorise them, the trauma of being robbed by criminals and communities ostracizing them because of their job titles.
Sex workers also cried for help as social workers occasionally take “neglected” kids without leaving any information on how they will get their kids back.
The Deputy Minister has confirmed that an intervention has been initiated to address these challenges.
Also assuring sex workers, Phindile Ngwazi, the Programme Manager for Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Task Force (SWEAT) passionately addressed that even though great success has been achieved with the Department of Health and the South African Police Service, they would not stop their groundwork, even after the full decriminalisation of sex work.
With the protest to decriminalise sex work going on its 12th year, Katlego Rasebitse, the organiser and national leader of Sisonke, the National Sex Movement in South Africa, says that the same society discriminating against sex workers for their jobs has greatly benefitted from their fights as South Africans now have access to pre-exposure prophylaxis pills (Prep) and Max condoms – thanks to sex workers.
To close off, the Deputy Minister promised that after they win the decriminalisation of the sex work war, expunging criminal records related to sex-work offences will be next on the agenda.
The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola will officially make this Bill available for public comment from the 9th of December until the 30th of January next year.
