Jump to navigation. Legalising sex work will go a long way in helping the country generate additional tax that could be spend on improving service delivery. Decriminalisation will also enable the government to register sex workers, put them through mandatory HIV testing and allow only those who are HIV-negative to enter the industry. In addition, decriminalisation will also help to empower sex workers to report human rights violations such as child prostitution and human trafficking and create conditions in which sex workers feel safe.
But is this a warranted call? Can the World Cup ever be a justification for the legalisation of sex work? It also takes into account some counter arguments apropos of the legalisation of the sex trade. Selebi caused widespread dismay when he proposed legalising or at least tolerating sex work and public drinking for the duration of the World Cup, arguing that the police force lacked the manpower to enforce the law in these areas.
He added that legalising sex work would free his officers to deal with more pressing security issues. If a visiting fan is out on the street having a bottle of beer, must I arrest him, because it is illegal?
Lekgetho suggested that South Africa legalise sex work for the duration of the FIFA World Cup in order to preclude instances of rape, as well as to bring in, perhaps, revenue which the government could put towards funding assistance for the unemployed. Theoretically, so long as it is legal, sex work would be easy to license, regulate and tax. It would provide money for the country, spur the establishment of more guidelines and safety precautions for the workers and their patrons, and generally allow the sex workers more organisational capabilities, providing more safety and empowerment.
There is also the issue of HIV. Legalising sex work could pave the way for regulations on mandatory testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections STIs , making it possible for behavioural changes and treatment to follow.
