South Africa Sex Workers Will Not Take It Lying Down In the World Cup

South Africa Sex Workers Will Not Take It Lying Down In the World Cup

Everybody is whetting their tools to cash in on the World Cup gravy train in South Africa. I have been waiting for the sex workers to stake their claim to the pie, in cash or in kind. The bomb has just gone off.

Pegging demands for better terms to the impending World Cup is the in-thing. Stadium workers fired the first salvo, security personnel, taxi operators and council employees followed in quick succession.

Now it is the turn of sex workers to drop the bombshell! Knowing that they are a vital service industry that though illegal will be critical in spicing up the World Cup spirit, they are grabbing the opportunity to demand legal recognition.

Picture this; the influx of prostitutes from EU bloc in the last World Cup in Germany was a record. South Africa may reduce that record to a pittance; blame it on the power of the Euro!

Their demand has been long in coming, probably because they are illegal and not unionized so far but it is finally here. The Sex Workers are ready to play ball in the World Cup but not unconditionally.

They are calling for the legalization of their trade before the World Cup to reduce the spread of HIV! If not a total overhaul of the law, then a temporary amnesty in time for the World Cup. This is a subtle maneuver but still may produce results.

Eric Harper, director of the Cape Town-based Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT), told CNN that the World Cup would inevitably lead to a demand for sex workers. Since prostitution is illegal in South Africa, Eric Harper believes decriminalizing prostitution can help control the spread of HIV.

His concern stems from the fact that the half a million fans expected with the World Cup will increase the demand for sex, "And where there's demand there will be a supply," Harper told CNN. "It could be a potential recipe for disaster both for the clients and the sex workers," he added.

Eric Harper is concerned that since prostitution is illegal, sex workers will be exposed to pregnancies, violence, rape and HIV. Had it been legal, it would have been easier to distribute condoms to the workers and have them reject those who refuse to use protection.

Throughout the world people have acknowledged that if you want to reduce HIV you need to be able to engage the population and address human rights concerns," he told CNN.
"One of the key messages is that decriminalization is a way of accessing sex workers.”

His other concern is of rape and crime. This is not quite sincere though. Sex Workers are the most violent lot, second only to thugs. South African Sex Workers especially are not a tame lot. It is not uncommon for them to demand their dues with a knife or a gun. Unless, occasionally, when they meet their match.

My sexcapadian counterparts from around the world should come loaded with cash or else they will go back from the World Cup minus their balls.


The South African authorities though are not giving in to their demands easily. South Africa's Law Reform Commission is expected to make its recommendations to the Minister of Justice in 2011 as part of a larger assessment of all sexual offenses.

So, what next the Sex Workers will do remains unknown but one thing I am sure is, it is a fait accompli, Sex will be available across the street to every other World Cup fan that feels an itch in his pant.

I hope there wont be xenophobic attacks on fellow sex workers from neighboring countries who would definitely troop to South Africa to make some bucks on the first World Cup in African soil. I would prefer a buffet of African delicacies to local South African cuisine!

They are claiming that they will not take it lying down but can there ever be a successful strike by sex workers anywhere in the world this century? Can sex crunch really hurt the economy or the population or the South African World Cup for that matter?