DURBAN - THE KwaZulu-Natal Legislature has resolved to fast-track the process of decriminalising and regulating sex work, with the intention of providing “freedom” for sex workers.
These resolutions were adopted during a sex work symposium held in Pietermaritzburg on Friday as part of the legislature’s public participation programmes.
The legislature’s media liaison and PR officer, Wesley Canham, said the resolutions made would be presented to the house and debated by political parties prior to execution.
At least 55 sex workers and their representative organisations were part of the discussions.
Dudu Dlamini from Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat) said they wanted a decree before 2024.
“Sex workers are dying. There is also an issue of femicide. Sex workers do not have basic human rights in this country,” she said.
The issue of the 2007 South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) and Project 107 report on sex work, which was still relied upon by the Department of Justice, was raised.
There were concerns that the report did not incorporate a rights-based approach to decriminalisation; instead it took away sex workers’ rights to security and dignity.
It was resolved that the SALRC engagements should not only be held with stakeholders and organisations, but with sex workers too.
It was also resolved that the SALRC should compile a new report that would acknowledge and incorporate all the progress made in the fight for the full decriminalisation of sex work.
Part of this resolution was that the report should adopt a rights-based approach.
Nokwanda Gambushe, the provincial co-ordinator of Sisonke, a sex workers movement, said they were pleased to have these discussions with the legislature.
“There is too much violence against sex workers. We are also harassed by police and treated like criminals.”
Gambushe added that the condoms distributed by the Department of Health were also used by police as “evidence of sex work” in court.
Gambushe hoped the resolutions would be implemented within a short period of time.
It was resolved that members of the SAPS be held accountable for all misconduct and abuse of people engaging in sex work.
In addition, existing channels for reporting misconduct must be implemented fully and consistently.
On the issue of sex workers not getting any government support, especially during strict extended lockdown regulations, it was also resolved that the government make a conscious effort to establish social support programmes for sex workers.
Daily News