Picking up the pieces
FOR six decades, prostitution has been illegal in South Africa yet it remains a common practice that continues to thrive under the guise of escort agencies, massage parlours, spas, and even B&Bs.
Brothel raids in Chatsworth, Phoenix, uMhlanga, Morningside and Durban North are ongoing, according to the authorities.
Four women were recently arrested at a Morningside brothel that was fronting as a beauty spa.
Seven women were also arrested for being part of sex ring operating in Bellair.
On Saturday, a former sex worker from Chatsworth, who had been arrested during a raid on a Hillary sex ring, said her life in prostitution and drugs was a difficult one.
Saveshnie Moodley, 33, worked at the brothel for two years before police swooped in and raided the venue.
She is currently in rehab with the Chatsworth Anti-Drug Forum.
Speaking at a Tamil Women’s Progressive Movement event held in Kharwastan, Moodley said sibling disputes and financial difficulties had pushed her towards prostitution and drug abuse.
“A few months after working there, we were raided by the drug unit. They had undercover police posing as customers,” she said.
“I was charged with possession and dealing of narcotics and for running a brothel. I spent a night in a holding cell that smelled of human faeces and urine. The next day I was out on bail.”
After she was released, “business”, she said, continued as usual.
Moodley said she had been introduced to drugs in November.
“I tried crack cocaine with a client and from then, I understood why people loved it. For in that moment it was a form of escape from the real world.
“I soon began smoking more and more and from a mere escape it became a dependency that helped me escape the dayto-day pressures of my life. An escape from a job where I had to be with different people every day and having to stay away from the ones you love.”
After a while, Moodley said the emotional and mental turmoil and the self-loathing set in.
“I started to lose weight drastically. By the end of December, I lost about 12kg.”
Close friends and family intervened.
She said their love, support and help drew her out from the dark pit she had found herself falling into.
But her court case in June had hovered over her like a dark cloud.
She was sentenced to three years behind bars at Westville Prison with a chance of parole only in 18 months.
“On the first night, I couldn’t sleep because I spent it with 14 others girls who were strangers to me. But the worst punishment was not being with the people I cared about and had limited visits with.
“I couldn’t go anywhere without the permission of a warden or a warden escorting us. I had to hustle for everything I needed, from cigarettes to lotion to socks. I was very lonely.”
After spending almost two months in prison, her cousin, from the United Kingdom, helped get her out on early parole.
She now spends most of her time with the Anti-Drug Forum trying to turn her life around.
“Despite my bad decisions, I am grateful for the second chance and am going to use this new lease on life to help steer other woman, in a similar situation, in the right direction.
“To others, it is not too late to seek help. Look to your family or the ABH (Aryan Benevolent Home) Safe house or women’s organisations for assistance. Even if you feel like you’re all alone, know there is always someone out there willing to help you.”
From March 2012, there have been moves to decriminalise prostitution.
The ANC Women’s League favoured these, hoping they would challenge the stigma that surrounds sex workers and secure dignity and safer working conditions.
The Commission for Gender Equality argued that current laws violated the constitution.
Last year, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa moved closer to regulating the sex industry to reduce the spread of HIV among prostitutes.
Two months ago the SA Law Reform Commission released a report on sexual offences in adult prostitution, suggesting the government either retain the criminalisation of sex work but offer a way out for prostitutes, or partial decriminalisation which would target pimps, clients and others involved in the industry with the exception of the sex workers.
The Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Task Force (Sweat) has persistently called for decriminalisation of the trade, mainly in cognisance of violence against women and the spread of disease for those in the sex industry. However, prostitution still remains unlawful.