Sexworker activity prompts residential petition

The Francis Street committee is collecting signatures to petition the Yeoville SAPS regarding the issue of sexworkers in Observatory and the surrounding areas.

“We would like to encourage residents to support this initiative. The more signatures we collect, the better it will be for the street committee. This will grab the attention of the authorities,” said Mr Joseph Dube, the secretary of the Yeoville Community Police Forum’s (YCPF) Sector 3.

The petition, as seen by the EXPRESS, lists a number of reasons for the petition. Among the reasons are the number of schools in the area and that children frequent the spaces where sexworkers conduct their business.

It also mentions that sexworkers breed other social ills such as alcoholism, crime and drug abuse. The petition states that sexworkers promote child trafficking and expands the industry, instead of controlling it.

It argues that sexworkers makes it socially acceptable for men to buy sex and that women are viewed as sexual commodities.

The final argument is that sexworkers does not promote women’s health because condom-use is not strictly enforced in the industry.

Constable Kenneth Mukwevho, the YCPF sector manager, said they welcome the petition.

“The sexworkers are a daily problem for us. We have regular patrols in the area and have warned a number of them when we spot them. It is a regular work in progress,” said Const Mukwevho.

The petition can be signed and returned to the project co-ordinator, Ms Raheemah Bunny, at raheemahbunny@gmail.com @JoburgJourno