Sex workers cash in
Prostitutes swarm to city for influx of Aids conference tourists
AS DURBAN prepares to welcome celebrities and thousands of delegates to the 21st International Aids Conference, sex workers are expecting to cash in on the influx of foreign visitors.
Among those attending is Britain’s Prince Harry, legendary pop star Elton John and Hollywood A-listers Charlize Theron and Queen Latifah.
There are 18 000 delegates and 1 000 journalists attending the conference, to be held next week.
Sex workers have also swarmed into the city, looking to make a killing.
Yesterday, the chairman of the South Beach Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP), Ebrahim Vadachia, said “a huge increase” in the number of prostitutes had been reported along the beachfront since Thursday.
“This is a highly publicised event and this type of influx of sex workers is a trend at any conference. Sex workers know these visitors are foreigners who have money, so they are ready, complete with pimps and drug runners.
“It’s highly ironic that it’s for an Aids conference, which aims to stop the spread of the HIV/Aids pandemic,” he said.
“Visitors to the city need to be very wary of the elements out there and should not consort with strangers.”
Durban NGO Umgeni Community Empowerment Centre assists sex workers, trafficking victims and the homeless.
Its youth co-ordinator, Thami Ntimbane, said they had also received reports that the North Beach area had seen a marked increased in sex workers in preparation for the weekend.
“Every time there is an event of international calibre, the number of ladies on the street increases – they see it as an opportunity.
“A large number of these ladies are under the influence of drugs and they may rob the client on instruction from their pimp.
“A client runs the risk of being robbed, infected and possibly arrested, as prostitution is illegal in South Africa,” said Ntimbane.
At the previous International Aids Conference held in Durban, in 2000, Durban prostitutes reported a brisk trade.
KZN SAPS media spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane, said they were not aware of the reported increase in sex workers along the beachfront.
“Those practising such crime, whether prostitute or buyer, will be charged accordingly.”
Meanwhile, this year’s conference message to “Step up the fight to end Aids” got off to a big start with the arrival of US rapper Common yesterday, who was given a rousing welcome at the Aids Healthcare Foundation Clinic in Umlazi by activists, health professionals and staff.
The clinic is where the province’s first HIV treatment was issued 15 years ago, at a time when anti-retroviral treatments were very limited.
Common, a Grammy and Oscar award-winning artist, said he felt blessed to be in South Africa.
“This is an important cause for me because I know people who have been affected by HIV/Aids. I have an uncle who died of Aids. He was very close to me and his death has inspired me to support this cause,” said Common.
The foundation has provided care to over 100 000 patients across South Africa and its president, Michael Weinstein, said the organisation had come a long way since the “beetroot and garlic” debacle of 15 years ago, saying SA was now “their best partner in the fight against Aids”.
The event was also attended by multi-award winning Zambian dance artist B-Flow, and both he and Common will be joining US star Queen Latifah at the “Keep The Promise” march, #KTP2016, and free concert to take place today.
The KTP march starts at midday and leaves from Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, and will end there before the concert starts at 4pm. Sharing the stage with the US stars will be local artists Mi Casa and Big Nuz, while media personalities Proverb and Ayanda will MC the event.
The conference officially gets under way on Monday (July 18-22) and certain streets near the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) have been cordoned off. No vehicles, except delivery vehicles, will be allowed into the ICC.
A TOP US Aids expert raised her concerns about the “blesser” situation, which she said was concerning in the fight against the spread of the disease.
“APPS that connect older, wealthy men with younger women for a transaction is very concerning,” said Deborah Birx, US global Aids co-ordinator and US special representative for global health diplomacy.
Birx was speaking at the 9th Aids and Economics Pre-Conference held at Suncoast yesterday, in the lead up to the 21st International Aids Conference which starts on Monday, and shared her concerns with high level officials and experts.
“Young women are at a greater risk for HIV/Aids. If we don’t change the dynamics, our work will not be done.
“We need to keep girls at school, they must be educated, they must have skills. Studies in Botswana show that the protective effect of education is stronger among young women, their risk of HIV/Aids infections is cut by half,” said Birx.
She said young people in general connected using new types of technology, the Aids fraternity needed to keep this in mind when designing plans.
“We have tried the conventional way, but we now have to do things differently and meet young people where they are and use their communication styles to get to them. Our messages don’t resonate with a 17-year-old.”
Giving examples of various initiatives across the world, Birx said great strides had been made in reducing mother to child transmissions.
“We’ve seen a decline in new incident rates by about 450 000 cases a year.”
However, adult transmission remains unchanged.
“With a growing world population, especially women, we have twice the risk of new adult infections.”
In South Africa, said Birx, sex workers were keen to get tested for HIV/Aids, but did not follow up on treatment.
“We know that the issue is not with testing. But we need to look at investing in ways to ensure there is treatment.
“On the other hand, research shows that men are very open to testing, and to going for treatment if they are diagnosed.”