Exclusive: ”My painful existence”

She’s 24 years old, but she looks no more than 16. Unemployed, a high school dropout, she came to Durban two years ago hoping to find employment. Today, she works the corner of Cromwell and Esther Robers (Frere) Roads, uses whoonga to numb the pain and keeps the truth of her life on the street away from her grandmother, her seven-year-old daughter and her car guard boyfriend. Her story is one of despair.

Prostitutes operating along suburban streets in and around Glenwood and Umbilo have been the cause of a massive public outcry with residents calling for stricter controls and action from police and local authorities. Residents have raised valid issues concerning health hazards, pointing out that many of the prostitutes use public verges, sidewalks and open spaces as toilets. Used condoms litter the area and residents have complained that the suburbs are being downgraded by the seedy activities.

We found Sindi (not her real name) at the corner of Cromwell and Esther Roberts (Frere) roads. When we first approached her, she wanted to run away but eventually relaxed when we assured her she would remain anonymous.

With brutal honesty, Sindi explained that she had come to Durban looking for a job two years ago. She had a sick grandmother and a seven-year-old daughter back home in Margate she needed to care for.

Finding a job was not easy but she recalled working for a short stint helping with school tours at the harbour. “I had no place to stay. I made friends on the street and we were hungry and didn’t have money for food. They told me there is one way of making money.”

Sindi said she charges between R50 to R100 for her services. “If you don’t use a condom it’s R200,” she said, adding that many of her clients usually return with a store bought condom.

The most the young woman has made in a day was R400. It was a good day where she had three clients. “Sometimes you get one client, sometimes two and sometimes nobody comes,” she said.

When asked about her clients, she said they had no specific profile, but varied. “They are young and old, black, white, Indian, foreigners. Some look poor others are rich, there are all types,” she said.

Once a client picked her up, Sindi said she usually takes them to nearby outhouses where homeowners and landlords charge by the hour. She refused to specify any further, but Berea Mail has been made aware of certain property owners in the area who are allegedly leasing outbuildings and granny cottages to prostitutes and pimps.

Sindi openly admitted to using the drug whoonga. “Yes, I have to use it. It is better if you are high then you don’t feel the pain,” she said pointing to her pelvic area.

She usually operates during odd hours, preferring to stay out of the way of other prostitutes who work the same corner. According to Sindi, there is a lot of in-fighting between the girls who are very territorial.

“Only once did one of the girls want a share of my money, she said she wouldn’t let me operate on her street and hit me with a bottle on my head. I don’t get involved and stay away from them because there is a lot of fighting amongst the girls. If I could get a good job I would leave,” she said.

Apart from the clothes she was wearing, Sindi said she owned nothing. All her belongings have been stolen. “I don’t have a bag or anything now. I live under the bridge in Whoonga Park, we wash under the railway line, there is a place with water and we go to the taxi rank to use the toilets,” she said.

She battled to hold back the tears as she spoke of her grandmother. “My grandmother still thinks I work at the harbour. I won’t tell her the truth, I go home to see them and take stuff once a month. I also have a boyfriend who is a car guard but he doesn’t buy me anything, he doesn’t know what I do.”

“I had dreams of becoming a policewoman or a lawyer while at school but dropped out in grade 10. I still hope one day I will find my way back to my dreams,” she said tears running down her face. “I don’t wish for anyone to be doing what I’m doing because I see how hard life is here. It is a very painful existence,” she added.