Panners fuel child prostitution

GOLD panners in Silobela, Midlands Province are allegedly fuelling child prostitution by targeting school-going children, teenage sex workers and child-headed families.

This emerged at a meeting on Thursday at Fatima High School. The meeting was organised by Plan International under the topic “Stop child abuse and teenage prostitution”.

Chief Malisa, Silobela representative in the National Assembly Cde Mthokozisi Manoki Mpofu, village heads, headmasters, teachers, learners from schools in and around Silobela, sex workers and parents attended the meeting. A teenage sex worker said gold panners were enticing them with cash.

“Omakorokoza are big spenders and as such they can afford to give one a $20 to spend before they engage in sex with me. They can even afford to take one to a night club where they spoil you with beer or drinks for the better part of the night,” she said.

An orphaned teenage sex worker laid the blame on poverty for engaging in the oldest profession.

“My parents died two years ago. After that my uncle took most of the property as he said my father did not pay lobola. As such I had no choice but to engage in prostitution. I needed money to cater for my upkeep and that of my siblings,” she said.

A female teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity said some schoolchildren from surrounding schools were engaging in sex work to raise money for school fees, buy lunch and sanitary ware.

However, she made a passionate plea to the local leadership and the Department of Social Welfare.

“We are appealing to the community leadership and Department of Social Welfare to assist the pupils who are financially disadvantaged with projects like rearing chickens, sewing or little funds to help them start a bakery project for buns or scones or any confectionery,” she said.

In some instances school-going children are absconding lessons to frequent night spots. A headmaster said this was a cause for concern that has resulted in most of the children dropping out of school.

The headmaster appealed to the police to deal decisively with teenagers who would be found at the night spots. Another teenage sex worker said they charge between $5 and $20.

Chief Malisa urged village heads and parents to play a parental role.

“As parents you have to play your parental role of instilling our Africanism especially to the child headed families. They are your children, don’t let them plunge into risks of contracting HIV,” he said.