Decriminalise sex work

READERS who have been lauding public officials for closing down brothels in Pietermaritzburg would be well advised to research other, progressive countries, where regulating or decriminalising these practices actually reduces violent crime and police corruption.

Prostitution is linked to human or child trafficking and other human rights offenses and the people who make the laws are the ones who capitalise on prohibition.

Prohibition simply moves the issue somewhere else or further underground.

Sex-workers are considered victimless criminals because according the criminal procedure act there are no victims in these crimes.

The offender is instead twice victimised. As a man and father, I abhor the idea of a woman resorting to sex-work for money. I abhor the idea, but not the person.

As a progressive property valuer out of post-apartheid South Africa, I’ve discovered research which shows that simply decriminalising sex-work and cannabis in a country can radically change its fortunes.

From a town-planning perspective, ideally brothels should be located away from schools, crèches, places of worship and professional businesses.

Let us not be duped by gutter journalism. Freedom of the press belongs to those who own one. CALVIN GOVENDER

Pietermaritzburg