Rinda Botha does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
But it has hesitated to act with the necessary courage to regulate the industry in a progressive way. The reluctance to take bold action to decriminalise the sector has detrimental effects for sex workers.
Decriminalisation would give sex workers access to labour rights and help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Most importantly, it would give sex workers more protection from violence.
The recent discovery of the bodies of six women, believed to be those of murdered sex workers , in Johannesburg once again highlighted the dangers they face. The incident has reignited the debate on decriminalisation. The two biggest fears are that it will lead to a spike in the sex work industry and the possibility of child prostitution.
But these fears do not warrant inaction. Government needs to start drafting a legislative framework to regulate the industry and decriminalise sex work.
