OUTRAGE AT CHATS SEX
Increase in street prostitution in Chatsworth and surrounds
THE hundreds of sex workers in Chatsworth say it’s a “good place to do business”. While Chatsworth’s community and religious leaders are worried about the boom in this illicit industry, sex workers are using every nook and cranny in the South Durban residential area to ply their trade.
Authorities estimate there are at least 500 sex workers, either on the streets or operating covertly, in Chatsworth and its surrounds.
Many of the clients are pensioners, who rely on social grants.
Sam Pillay from the Chatsworth Anti-Drug Forum said police were trying their best to curtail the activities of sex workers but it was a problem that “just won’t go away”.
“I’ve counselled numerous sex workers in the past and many have told me they prefer to work in Chatsworth because it is a good place to do business and they often make good money,” said Pillay.
Desiree Govender, a co-ordinator at the Chatsworth Community Care Centre, also expressed concerns about the increasing number of sex workers operating in the area.
Also astounding for Govender is that children as young as 12 have been drawn to the world’s oldest profession.
Pillay said he estimated there were 500 sex workers operating in Chatsworth, “but what about the ones we don’t know about?” he asked.
He said even the recent killing of a sex worker didn’t dent the sex industry.
Pillay was referring to Desiree Murugan, whose headless body was found at Shallcross Stadium on Monday. The 39-year-old mother of one was a known sex worker in the area.
“I’ve seen girls back on the streets shortly after the incident, as if they believe it won’t happen to them,” he said.
Pillay said many of the girls had a drug problem and the sex trade was their best way to get a regular fix.
Govender agreed, adding that the dire financial circumstances of some individuals contributed heavily towards the spread of the sex trade.
“Some sex workers have spoken about children and sometimes elderly parents they need to support or boyfriends living off the money they made,” she said.
Sex workers have been beaten by boyfriends when they failed to make enough money.
“Some are so badly assaulted that they need hospital treatment,” said Govender.
According to her, the area around the Chatsworth Centre is regarded as the “hot spot”.
Sex workers’ fees range between R20 and R200, depending on the acts performed.
On a good day, they could earn as much as R1 000.
Govender is concerned at the number of pensioners and individuals who supposedly rely on government social grants to eke out a living, but willingly fork out cash for sex.
Arrest is not a deterrent for sex workers. They’re usually back on the streets when their fines are paid.
Money
“We try our best to get sex workers out of the industry, but we’re often left disappointed when they’ve ignored our advice,” Govender said.
Faisal Suleman of the Muslim Network said most sex workers were drawn to the industry by earning prospects.
“We need to address social ills to tackle this issue properly,” Suleman said.
The Rev Cyril Pillay of the People’s Church of God suggested religious organisations, women and youth groups and police join forces to regain control of the streets, lanes and pathways of Chatsworth.
“It’s time we started working together. The situation is reaching dangerous levels,” he said.
Pundit Lokesh Maharaj said Hinduism clearly rejected any form of prostitution..
“According to Hindu scriptures, one is forbidden to engage in sexual relationships with any women other than your wife. We need to take cognisance that often it is a caring mother or sister who is the helpless victim of circumstances.
“We must therefore support government initiatives to alleviate poverty and assist in programmes that reinforce selfworth and self-esteem.
“We should also be sympathetic rather than judge those on the receiving end of the imbalances in society,” he said.
Chatsworth police said they were committed to addressing loitering prostitutes.
Provincial police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker said they had identified crime prevention strategies.
“One of the strategies is covert operations involving police officers waiting outside suspected establishments for entrapment.
“There have been initiatives by the Chatsworth CPF, Shallcross Crime Forum and SAPS in recent months to address prostitution in Shallcross,” he said.
Naicker said 21 arrests were made for loitering for the purposes of prostitution over the past few months. Nine people were found guilty.
Police had also identified the Croftdene CBD, Shallcross and Crossmoor as hot spots.
“Sex workers arrested by police are either homeless or have a limited education and use the trade to sustain their drug addiction,” said Naicker.
Murugan’s brother Chris said though she was a sex worker, she didn’t deserve a barbaric killing. He said she did well in school and studied music at university for a while before dropping out.
“Her marriage was a disaster. That is when she got hooked on drugs and after her divorce she became a sex worker,” he said.