Mazwai to walk the talk in solidarity with sex workers
Nomsa Mazwai is staging a walk later this month in solidarity with sex workers in an effort to decriminalise sex work.
The renowned activist and artist is organising the walk in heels from the Johannesburg CBD to Hillbrow through her NPO #FunkItImWalking.
According to Mazwai, the organisation aims to “make the streets safer for women to walk at any time of day in any condition”. The walk is scheduled to take place on May 27 and will feature advocates/activists, political figures, celebrities, the public and more than 100 sex workers.
“Injury to one is injury to all. If sex workers are not safe, none of us are safe.
“Sex workers are especially vulnerable because when they are victims of illegal acts of violence, they cannot seek assistance or protection from law enforcement,” Mazwai said.
“As #FunkItImWalking, we knew this is a call we could definitely support as it enables a situation where women are safe to walk.”
Mazwai will join forces with Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Task Force (Sweat) for the walk that aims to highlight challenges faced by sex workers.
“It is 2021 and sex work is still criminalised under the Sexual Offences Act that was drafted during the apartheid era.
“Sex workers autonomously choose to do this work; they are providers — mothers, fathers, caregivers, taxpayers and should be treated as such,” Sweat advocacy manager Dudu Dlamini said.
“Sex work must be recognised as work.
“Sex workers’ rights should be part of labour rights.
“Join the walk to make the government take note and change the Sexual Offences Act.
“The extent of structural, sexual and physical violence sex workers face links to sex workers’ rights not [being] recognised as part of labour rights.”
Last week, Mazwai announced that she was stepping down as general manager of the Soweto Theatre after five years.