Sex workers have reached the end of the line in the Tshwane area. This was the no-nonsense message from the Tshwane Metro Council after Monday's consultative forum to consider the issue of prostitution. The forum was hosted by executive mayor Smangaliso Mkhatshwa.

The meeting was attended by a number of stakeholders, including police, officials of the National Prosecuting Authority, the Human Rights Commission, business people and representatives from Unisa, the Sex Workers Education and Training Task Team and People Opposed to Women Abuse.

Mkhatshwa – who has previously expressed concern at the escalating number of sex workers in the inner city and surrounding areas – announced at a recent council meeting that he would meet stakeholders to look at the problem of prostitution.

Of concern is the fact that most sex workers operate in the vicinity of the Union Buildings, Arcadia and Sunnyside – areas frequented by ambassadors, high commissioners and Cabinet ministers.

William Baloyi, spokesperson for the executive mayor's office, said Monday's consultative meeting was aimed at finding ways of tackling the problem.

Mkhatshwa was concerned about the fact that the number of sex workers operating in the inner city, Sunnyside and Arcadia was increasing, he said.

“The main aim of Monday's meeting was to look at short- and long-term solutions to tackle the problem.

“All stakeholders agreed that there is was a need for a holistic approach to the problem,” said Baloyi.

Mkhatshwa was also concerned about child prostitution, he said. “As the administrative capital city of South Africa, we cannot allow our city to be turned into a sex capital.”

Area Police Commissioner Amon Mashigo – who also attended Monday's meeting – praised Mkhatshwa for taking the lead to tackle the problem.

Mashigo said prostitution was one of the major problems, especially in Sunnyside and Arcadia.


“Of concern is that there are ambassadors, high commissioners and Cabinet ministers staying in the Arcadia area.

“This (prostitution) does not create a good image for the country,” said Mashigo.

The meeting not only looked at prostitution but also at other crimes which include hijackings, murder, rape and armed robberies.

Mashigo said the introduction of the Hatfield Court had helped reduce crime in Sunnyside, Arcadia and surrounding areas.

“The court has handed out heavy fines and jail terms to those who break the law,” said Mashigo.

Police would step up their crime prevention operations, concentrating mainly on prostitutes. “We will continue to tackle this and other crimes,” said Mashigo.

Kganare Lefoka, chief executive officer of Chambers of Commerce and Industry South Africa (Tshwane), welcomed the initiative taken by Mkhatshwa.

“A platform has now been created to tackle the problem,” he said.

Lefoka said prostitution was a cause for concern.

“We are also concerned about the number of adult entertainment centres (brothels and massage parlours) operating in the inner city and surrounding areas.

“These centres must be identified and cleaned up,” said Lefoka.

He said there was a need to have a “conservative city with moral value”.

“We do not want to turn Tshwane into a sex city.”

Lefoka said one of the biggest problems with prostitution was that it was often associated with robbery, murder and drug trafficking.

QUOTE: "Lefoka said one of the biggest problems with prostitution was that it was often associated with robbery, murder and drug trafficking."

Dumb moron can't see that prostitution is often associated with criminals because it is criminalised.

Legalise it or decriminalise it, and criminals will have no interest in it.

This is all very interesting in the light of the fact that the "leader of our moral regeneration" has just been charged with rape, and now faces rape AND corruption charges.

Canada, New Zealand, and most countries in Europe have decriminalised or legalised prostitution, and they haven't collpsed into "moral decay" or been destroyed by an apocalyptic fireball. In fact, I gladly swop ALL of their problems combined for just a few of ours.

Maybe this idiot should work out why most sex workers are around the union buildings and embassys ( to be close to the best clients).

Really, you would think there are more important things to be worried about.