World Cup to Bring Sex Work Boom

Sex work is expected to boom during the World Cup in South Africa. Officials are calling for increased shipments of condoms, and police forces are bolstering themselves for much sex work-related law enforcement.

Arguably, the soccer World Cup is to the sex industry what the holiday season is to candy shops. A temporary surge of excited people feeling collectively festive, willing to pay for a bit of extra indulgence.

South Africa's Drug Central Authority estimates 40,000 sex workers will trickle in for the event from as far as Russia, the Congo and Nigeria to cater to the wide taste spectrum of some 400,000, mostly male, visitors and their apres-soccer needs.

World Cup Welcome: A Billion Condoms and 40,000 Sex Workers
Global Post
May 7, 2010

A Look Inside the Sex Worker Industry as it Prepares for the World Cup

This report takes readers inside the world of sex work in Johannesburg, and finds a booming industry that's ready and waiting for the influx of visitors coming to the coutnry for the World Cup.

I paid R7 at the door and was told a beer costs R15. The sex workers charge R50 for “a round” and the same for a blow job.

Each room has two beds and a mattress and doubles up as a kitchen. The girls rent out the rooms, with at least five sharing a room.

“It will be business as usual for us during the World Cup,” says one of them.

Sex workers up for World Cup - Soccer visitors will be spoilt for choice in Johannesburg
Sowetan
March 2, 2010

Prostitution Clean-Up Has Some Worried About Health During World Cup

Broad cleanup efforts targeting the sex worker industry in South Africa have garnered the support of family and religious groups, but have some health officials and researchers worried about the lack of oversight and expected boost in prostitution during the World Cup.

In September, Cape Town set up a vice squad tasked with "cleaning up" the city's brothels and prostitutes - a move applauded by religious and family groups.

"There is quite a sense of religious and sexual moralism on the subject that does not help in term of public health and human rights," said Marlise Richter, a researcher who collaborates with sex worker advocacy groups.

"Making sex work more invisible makes it harder for sex workers to negotiate safer sex, and it will have greater influence on HIV prevalence."

South Africa already has the world's biggest HIV caseload, with 5,7 million of its 48 million people infected. An estimated 45 percent of prostitutes have the disease, according to a 1998 study.

Prostitutes fear 2010 clean-up
Independent Online
November 20, 2009

Prostitution Won't Be Decriminalized for World Cup

Despite earlier reports that sex laws would be lossened during the 2010 World Cup, a national officials has announced that there are no plans to decriminalize prostitution.

[Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister Andries] Nel says the South African Law Reform Commission will only publish a report with final legislative proposals in 2011. This comes after several role players debated the legalisation of adult sex work at a seminar at Unisa in Pretoria today. Nel says the legalisation of adult sex work must not be linked to the World Cup.

No new law to decriminalise prostitution before 2010: Minister
SABC News
September 21, 2009

2010 Provides Illegal Economic Opportunity for Street Children

The 2010 World Cup is expected to be a big economic opprtunity for black market work by street children, who are likely to sell drugs and sex work during the event, according to former street children.

The City of Cape Town has reportedly set aside money to remove street children during next year's event, but those rumors have not been verified.

Former street children Sigumbuzo Makhubo and Thozamile Ganjana, both 23, who are now working in the film industry and as "fixers" for international journalists, said street kids had plans to make big money during 2010.

Makhubo, who left the streets in 2005, said the children were ready for one big party.

"They know the visitors will use drugs and want sex. And they know they can make money from that."

Street kids' 2010 plan: drugs, sex=big bucks
Cape Argus
July 12, 2009

SA Considering Legalizing Prostitution

There are concerns in the country that the 2010 World Cup will result in an increase in human trafficking for sex work, and officials are warming up to the idea of legalizing prostitution to reduce this threat. But with a high rate of AIDS/HIV in South Africa, some critics say the move is a bad idea.

Legal experts have already suggested proposals to legalise prostitution, saying police would be freed to focus on serious crime instead of petty vice - a position that has won support among some police officials.

S.Africa mulls prostitution law
The Straits Times
Jun 22, 2009

Children a Focus of Labor Trafficking Concerns

Human trafficking for sex work and general labor is being cited as a major concern for South Africa in the lead up to the 2010 World Cup. A recent report from the US State Department on human trafficking lauds South Africa for its work preventing sex worker trafficking and prosecuting violators. The reports calls for more focus on protecting laborers, especially children.

The report recommended that the South African government pass and enact the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill and implement the Children's Amendment Act of 2007.

Children must be protected during 2010 - US
Independent Online
June 17, 2009

Sex Work Legalization Still on Table for Many in SA

Decriminalizing or legalizing sex workers in South Africa is seen by many as a golden opportunity to cash in on the large amount of visitors expected during the World Cup. But the idea remains controversial.

Leading up to Fifa 2010 World Cup in South Africa, there is much debate on the topic of sex work and its decriminalisation.

At the 2006 German World Cup, an estimated 3 million fans bought sex with over 40 000 illegal sex workers who entered the European country in search of work. Make no doubt about it, with fans from every continent congregating in South Africa and the region for one month of non-stop football action, commercial sex work — whether legalised or not — will record increased business.

...South African lobby group, the Sex Worker Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat) wants the country’s government to decriminalise and regulate sex work ahead of the World Cup. As current laws stand, sex workers are unable to demand their labour rights, leaving them at the mercy of brothel owners or pimps who can exploit the women by withholding wages or medical assistance, or by forcing them to work long and unrealistic hours in order to maximise on profits.

Source:
The Supply and Demand of sex Work
The Standard
April 11, 2009