Activists addressing gender-based violence have expressed serious concern over the increasing number of incidents of violence against sex workers in areas such as Phoenix, Tongaat, Vereulam, Chatsworth, and Merebank. They are urgently calling for legal reform and support for these vulnerable groups.
These activists noted that sex work is rapidly spreading in these closely connected communities, as women are forced into this profession to support their families and cover living expenses. Dr. Daniel Chettiar, founder of DSK Group, a non-profit organization assisting victims of gender-based violence, child abuse, and trauma, stated that in Phoenix, Vereulam, Tongaat, and Umkhahlali, sex work thrives due to unemployment and poverty.
He emphasized that while more women turn to sex work for survival, they lack any social safety net. Chettiar reported receiving about 37 reports of attacks on sex workers over the last four months, most of which were attributed to women being forced into sex work due to an inability to find employment.
Legal Reform
Activists are worried about the growing aggression from men. Chettiar noted that men tend to act out fantasies they see in movies. He recounted a case where a 25-year-old sex worker was tied up, sexually assaulted, and then severely beaten. The main issue is finding the male perpetrators for prosecution.
Furthermore, a situation was described where a woman, relying on a client meeting, was gang-raped at a beach. She refuses to report it because sex work is not legalized. Chettiar added that many of the 37 registered cases are linked to women trying to feed their families.
He cited the example of a woman who became an orphan with no education and was forced to care for two siblings. Unable to find work, she started sex work to send her relatives to school and manage the household. She is now in high school, which gives her a chance to change her life. In Chettiar's view, sex work has become a simple way to earn money, despite long-held beliefs that a woman should not sell her body.
Vanessa Chetti, founder of Hope Foundation, reported that in Merebank, Chatsworth, and Shalters, sex workers are attacked by clients who refuse to pay. She observed that the image of a sex worker has changed: if 30 years ago it was only associated with street vending, now it happens at home, especially in local communities.
Chetti pointed out that violence often occurs when clients avoid payment. She stressed that most women do not file police reports for fear of being charged with prostitution. This, she said, encourages men to commit assaults, as they believe legal consequences will be minimal.
Prem Balram, head of Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), shared information about recent incidents. He spoke of a 29-year-old sex worker who was allegedly overpowered, sexually assaulted, and abandoned on the road between Umkhlanga and Mount Edgecombe by three Indian men from Chatsworth who claimed they were heading to Richards Bay.
Following this incident, another woman in the Phoenix industrial area contacted police officers, reporting an attack after a dispute with a client. A woman from Durban agreed to provide sexual services after receiving a prepayment of 200 rand. She claims the client refused to pay the remaining amount and attacked her during the argument. The man admitted the confrontation became physical, but no injuries were recorded, and he agreed to reimburse the woman.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development confirmed that a bill is being prepared aimed at decriminalizing adult sex work. Although an official completion date has not been announced, the passage of such a law would end the current legal status, under which selling, buying sex, or earning income from sex work is illegal in South Africa.
