Police Assault Sex Workers and Get Caught Red Handed Taking Money from Sex Worker
A significant police backlash is being felt by sex workers around the country following human rights events for the International Sex Worker Rights Day on March 3rd.
In Johannesburg, Sisonke Sex Worker Movement national co-ordinator Kholi Buthelezi had her hands full with sex workers calling her for help "the day after the march in Johannesburg I went from Germiston back to the city taking statements from sex workers who were harassed or arrested". 27 Sex workers were arrested and released with a R300 fine in Germiston while in the City sex workers were harassed and one was assaulted.
Ms Buthelezi witnessed a police reservist soliciting a bribe from a sex worker - and took a picture of the culprit with her phone "I sent an MMS of the picture to an officer at the Johannesburg Central Police Station and they have promised to investigate." The police reservist was carrying his police jacket in a plastic bag and demanded money from the sex worker, taking R10 after she said it was all she had.
In Limpopo provincial co-ordinator of the Sisonke Sex Worker Movement and partner organisation, Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme (TVEP) assisted a sex worker who was whipped on the stomach by police officers there. Prince Nare of TVEP said "she is a migrant sex worker and even though we encouraged her, she would not go to the hospital or clinic to have her injuries treated because she was afraid of being deported".
The march in Limpopo had to be cancelled because the Musina Local Municipality took away permission for sex workers to march less than 24 hours before the March was expected to start. No reasons provided in writing and the Station Commander at Musina Police Station threatened sex workers and the convener of the march with arrest and detention should they deliver the memorandum that sex workers had prepared.