IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE
Issue 16
Izwi Lethu Our Voice
2018: Issue 16
A NEWSLETTER BY SEX WORKERS FOR SEX WORKERS
Editor’s Note by Lunga, Editor in Chief This Izwi Lethu: Our Voice, Issue 16, is the first for the year 2018 and for me as a new member of the Sisonke team. It has been a great beginning for me, joining a week long workshop with the editorial team in Johannesburg to put together this issue.
This issue and the journey promises to be a great and successful one for me and the organisation in contributing to alleviate sex workers’ plight in South Africa since the industry is criminalised in the country. In this issue, as with the previous ones, Izwi Lethu: Our Voice continues to advocate for the decriminalisation of sex work and educate not only our members but also other sex workers and the general public about the challenges encountered in the industry. Take time and indulge yourselves in stories like My Boyfriend’s Child, an article looking at difficulties a child faces when molested by a stepfather.
Be Careful When You Drink on the Job highlights the challenges encountered by sex workers when having one too many on the job. It is important to always be vigilant even when sober as many service users are capable of taking advantage of the vulnerability of sex workers. In An Unexpected Journey, you can read a sex worker’s perspective on how law enforcement agencies continue to offer a short arm to sex workers for assistance and how hard life can be for a migrant sex worker. The issue also updates you on the Sisonke leadership’s two-day Strategic Planning meeting. The meeting served to map a way forward for the organisation as it is in a process of operating as a stand-alone organisation, separate from the Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT), Sisonke’s mother organisation since inception.
Editor in Chief: Lunga Managing Editor: Kagee
Izwi Lethu: Our Voice will continue to surge forward in being a platform by and for sex workers and calling for decriminalisation of sex work now! Lunga Editor in Chief
Reporter: Ziyanda Reporter: Chidhavazo Guest Contributor: Itai
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Sisonke Leadership Meets to Chart Way Forward by Lunga, Editor in Chief
to prioritise sex workers' human rights
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Outreach by From the 13th to the 16th of March 2018, Sisonke North West in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) held a five-day training for Part-Time Peer Educator Cynthia and MSF peer educators from Mozambique in Marikana. The training also served to introduce MSF peer educators to popular hotspots, show them how Sisonke conducts outreaches, and share with them ideas on how they can help other sex workers. The partnership also granted Cynthia an opportunity to learn and gain new ideas on doing her work. The partnership served MSF with an opportunity to go on outreach with Cynthia to see and learn how Sisonke conducts outreaches. For Cynthia, the training and outreaches afforded her an opportunity to develop new ideas on doing outreaches and communicating with sex workers and members.
March Event by On 10 March 2018 Sisonke North West in partnership with Gay Umbrella held a march at Mmabana Centre in Mafikeng. The event had the support of the provincial health care workers, the youth, and Mafikeng’s own Afro Pop singer Shidy M. The day started on a sombre note with sex workers sharing the challenges they face daily in the industry. But when Shidy M performed her hits, the day turned jovial with the event ending up attracting many community members.
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My Unexpected Journey by Ziyanda, Reporter
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Photo Feature by Chidhavazo and Ziyanda, Reporters
Photo Credits Clockwise Chidhavazo Chidhavazo Chidhavazo Ziyanda Ziyanda Ziyanda Chidhavazo
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My Boyfriend’s Child by Chidhavazo, Reporter
It was on the 4th of April 2018 while I was sitting at my home relaxing, my boyfriend came with a seven-year-old girl and introduced her to me as his daughter. He asked me to take care of his child because her mother is failing to look after her. The mother was a drug addict, and she did not have time for her child. The next day I was bathing her body, but she refused to let me wash between her legs. I asked her why. She just started crying and would not answer me. Then I went to tell her father, and we decided to take her to the hospital. We explained to the doctor what had happened, and the doctor examined her. She said that the girl had been raped.
After that we tried to get the girl to tell us what had happened until she finally explained that it was her mother’s boyfriend who had raped her while he was taking her to school. The doctor advised us to go and report the matter at a nearby police station. The case was opened. The police asked the child if she knew the accused person. She said yes. They took us to where the accused was staying, and the girl managed to point him out. The police arrested him. The girl is still staying with us, and she is now comfortable with me bathing her. She is still troubled, but I am trying to help her.
Hello, men out there! I want to know why you sleep with your girlfriend’s child. Is it because you have feelings for the child? Or you want to hurt the mother? Why?
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Be Careful When You Drink on the Job by Ziyanda, Reporter
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Sisonke’s Stern Call to Decriminalise Sex Work by Lunga, Editor in Chief
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My Story at a Brothel in South Africa by Itai, Guest Contributor, with the help of Chidhavazo, Reporter
My name is Itai. I have stayed at a brothel in Johannesburg from 2007 until now because of my situation back home in Zimbabwe. I have four kids. Three were at school when I left Zimbabwe, but I managed—not because it was easy. It was tough. At the brothel life is difficult, paying rent of R150 everyday whether or not I have the money. The management wants their money. Sometimes I get sick, but they don’t care. They tell me that if I can’t afford the rent, then I must go. They will lock my door. They don’t care how long I have been paying rent. I am stressed because I am worried about how I am going to support myself and my family. I don’t have a passport or ID to go and look somewhere else for accommodation; the owners of other buildings need documents. So life is hard for me.
One day I got a client who gave me good money because he wanted to sleep the whole night and rest in morning, but at 7:30 a.m. the management came knocking and said, “Customer out! Time is up!” Another time a client came with a R1000. He wanted to sleep with me without using a condom. I was thinking of my situation and how I was in need of money. I agreed. After some months I started to feel burning urine and itching. I was afraid to go to the clinic, thinking that they would ask for my passport before I got treatment because I didn’t know my rights. I kept quiet and became sicker. I knew I couldn’t go outside because the police were waiting outside the brothel to arrest migrants without documents. I thought the police might also wait outside the clinic. Even now I am still afraid to go outside. When I want
to go buy pap, the police can demand R300 or R500 from me because I don’t have a passport. Now I cannot go outside because I am afraid of police. I am always in the brothel.
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Dance by Kagee, Managing Editor It was a summer afternoon and the day was a very lazy one. I took my bag from the Sisonke Office with condoms and lubricants as part of my work in making sure that sex workers’ health and rights are protected and went off to Hillbrow to do outreach. The sun was very hot and my mind was all over as I had to smile, share information that can be lifesaving to sex workers, and also listen to their daily struggles. One thing that I knew was that I was going to be asked that question as I am doing outreach. The question always comes in different forms but I just have to answer it to my best ability. “When is Sisonke employing us?” My answer differs depending on the information at hand. I will say, “I will tell you when the posts for employment are out, then you can apply.”
I met few sex worker in the foyer of an apartment building in Hillbrow. We engaged about our next workshop and next safe space. The reason the meeting took place in the foyer is because sex workers do not like to show their private spaces to peers and health care workers. In the corner of the reception area near where we were standing, there was an old sex worker. She looked about 50 years of age and was a full-figured lady. I could clearly see that she sat all day without moving. She called me by my name, which was no surprise because I am known through Sisonke work. My mind once more rushed to many thoughts. I thought she was going to ask for food or money. I already thought about how many coins or notes I had. I tamed my rushing thoughts and extended my right hand as I was approaching to greet her. She looked at me with glowing eyes but they were tired and one could tell that she had not bathed in weeks. She opened her mouth to talk to me and said, “Dance for me.” I told her there was no music to dance to. Then she said, “Dance to the song in your head.” She was still holding my hand with no intention of letting go. That was the strangest request I had been asked to do. I then made a few dance moves. I stopped dancing, and she smiled and laughed so loud. She said, “You made my day!”
I left with a smiling heart knowing that I had made an old sex worker’s day special. That night I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I told myself that I must know her more as she could be a good friend to talk to on a daily basis as I like going to Hillbrow. The following day, I went by her place, and I was told that she had passed on. My heart sank with disbelief, and I could not utter a word for a minute. I withheld my tears as all did not make sense. Sadly no one knew her name or the place she came from. The police had already taken her body. This is just one of the stories that our work in Sisonke takes us into. I salute and appreciate every field worker that goes an extra mile in making sure that sex workers’ human rights and health rights are protected. Let us not forget.
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Ask Dear Mastoep
Health Tip
by Mastoep
by Veliswa Mayeko, SWEAT Nurse
Dear Mastoep, Is it possible for HIV positive parents to have a healthy baby? Mom-to-be Dear Mom-to-be, Congrats on becoming a mother! Yes, you can be positive and still give birth to a healthy baby. For more details, I consulted the SWEAT nurse, Sister V. She wanted me to tell you that through the Prevention of Vertical Transmission programme an HIV positive mother who is taking Antiretroviral drugs, has a suppressed viral load, and is free of other opportunistic infections can still have a healthy baby. But you must be sure to discuss your concerns with your doctor! Mastoep Dear Mastoep Is it true that having many children causes cervical cancer? Brenda Dear Brenda,
It is not true. Cervical cancer results from the HPV virus. Mastoep
HPV Virus Picture
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Migrant Sex Workers: Legal Visa and Health Care by Nasreen Solomons, Women’s Legal Centre
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The Women’s Legal Centre is a nonprofit law center that seeks to achieve quality for women, particularly black women, through impact based litigation, the provision of free legal advice to women, support for advocacy campaigns, and the provision of training that ensures that people know and understand the impact of the judgement of the courts around women’s rights. Cape Town and Johannesburg offices. 24 hours helpline: 060 377 4439 www.wlce.co.za
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Read Past Izwi Lethu Issues Online by Sisonke and MoVE
Izwi Lethu is a Gauteng-based newsletter by sex workers for sex workers. Sisonke Sex Worker Movement and the African Centre for Migration and Society are partnering to produce a newsletter, facilitate creative writing workshops, print and distribute hard copies, and promote the content online through multiple platforms. You can read the past issues online at https://issuu.com/ move.methods.visual.explore/docs
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Know Your Sisonke Leaders: Lunga Luthuli by Ziyanda and Chidhavazo, Reporters
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Kholi’s Desk by Kholi, Sisonke National Coordinator
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Sisonke Sex Worker Movement Launched in 2003, Sisonke is South Africa’s only sex worker movement run by sex workers for sex workers. Sisonke aims to unite sex workers, improve living and working conditions, fight for equal access to rights, and advocate for the decriminalisation of sex work in South Africa.
Izwi Lethu is a collaboration between Sisonke Sex Worker Movement and ACMS’s the MoVE Project.
Check out methodsvisualexplore.tumblr.com for extended articles, audio recordings of writers reading their stories, and many more pictures.