Izwi Lethu: Our Voice, Issue 18, 2018

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE

Issue 18

Izwi Lethu Our Voice

2018: Issue 18

A NEWSLETTER BY SEX WORKERS FOR SEX WORKERS

Editor’s Note

Photo Feature

by Lunga, Editor in Chief

by Ziyanda, Photographer

Continues on p. 15

Editor in Chief: Lunga Managing Editor: Kagee

Reporter: Ziyanda Reporter: Chidhavazo

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE Issue 18

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Bail Money Party: A Story from Thohoyandou

by Ziyanda, Reporter, and Joy, Sisonke Peer Educator

Police and rights (2018) They told the police they were going to call the Women’s Legal Centre and report the matter.

Joy was doing a night outreach in Thohoyandou in Limpopo. After she knocked off, she went to a hotspot to work. Joy’s friend got a client and went to a nearby bush to do business. Joy followed them to look after her friend because the place is known not to be safe, but they still go there because they need money. When Joy’s friend and the client came back from the bush, the police were passing by on the road and saw them. The police arrested Joy’s friend and her client. The police took them to the station and laid a charge of public indecency against them. Joy and other sex workers contributed the sum of R1000 all together to bail her out.

The policeman started to insult and criticize their sex work job and called them bad names. Joy explained to the policeman that the accused person was not doing business. The police officers had arrested them because they knew that she was a sex worker. The policeman on duty ignored their complaints and laughed at them.

They told the policeman that they were from Sisonke and they were going to call the Women’s Legal Centre and report the matter. The policeman got shocked and told them that he was not the one who arrested their friend. He then asked them to come back after 2:00 p.m.

Surprisingly within a couple of minutes Joy’s friend called her to say that she was being released without being charged. They were happy and decided to use the money for a celebration with her. They had enough money to buy her clothes to wear since she was in her working clothes. Then all nine of them went to the restaurant and celebrated with her. Her arrest ended up being a big celebration.

The group was so happy at the restaurant that the people who saw them asked what they were celebrating.

They explained to them what happened and that they are local sex workers.

Thohoyandou is a rural and traditional area, where many people are against sex work. Some of the people at the restaurant said it is an abomination to do that business while others understood that it is work. They started to ask for the sex workers’ contact numbers. After listening to their stories, most of the people at the restaurant supported them. By talking about their experiences, sex workers can stand up against stigma and discrimination.

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE Issue 18

My Story as a Single Parent

by Chidhavazo, Reporter

Working for my family (2018) My children finished secondary school and have jobs.

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IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE Issue 18

Mothers for the Future: Hope for Sex Worker Mothers

by Chidhavazo, Reporter, and Ziyanda, Photographer

Assistance (2018)

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IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE Issue 18

Sisonke Attending an OSF Celebration

by Sisonke National

Celebrating with funders (2018) Open Society Foundation South Africa, a key funder of the Sisonke National Sex Worker Movement and SWEAT, celebrates 25 years of grant making in South Africa.

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Asijiki, Resolute on the Decriminalisation of Sex Work

by Ziyanda, Reporter

On the ground (2018) Volunteers agreed to be the eyes and ears for Asijiki Coalition.

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE Issue 18

The Secret of my Boyfriend’s Child

by Chidhavazo, Reporter

The real father (2018) My boyfriend is taking care of a child that may not be his own.

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Mistreatment of Sex Workers by Cops: A Story from the Free State

by Ziyanda, Reporter, and Mantwa, Sisonke Peer Educator

Reporting Police Abuse (2018) They laid a charge of harassment, human rights violation, and assault against the police. But the police did not open a case.

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE Issue 18

Gender is Just a Word, We Are One People

by Grace, Sisonke Member

Fighting against discrimination (2018) I had a safe space to speak about my gender, my sexuality, and my sex work.

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Photo Feature

by Chidhavazo, Photographer

Chidhavazo (2018) Going to Zimbabwe.

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE Issue 18

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Photo Feature

by Ziyanda, Photographer

Ziyanda (2018) Views from a Sisonke event in Killarney.

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Know Your Rights

by Quinten Williams, MoVE

from The Women's Legal Centre's Lawyer Manual 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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Kholi’s Desk

by Kholi, Sisonke National Coordinator

Kholi’s Desk (2016) This is Kholi, one day at the office.

Sisonke Assistant National Coordinator Pamela Chakuvinga supported by Sisonke members held two report-back sessions in Western Cape and Limpopo on the research conducted on the reduction of violence against sex workers. During the process, trainings were given to capacitate sex workers on leadership.

I do not want to forget to thank Sisonke members and other sex workers on the ground for the time made to attend Sisonke events and those who extended invitations to others, making sure that Sisonke’s is known.

December is here and too many things are happening! Sisonke is wishing you all a safe holiday with family, friends, and your loved ones! Take good care of yourselves till we meet again!

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Ask Dear Mastoep

by Dear Mastoep

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Health Tip

Editor’s Note

from Smart Sex Resource

by Lunga, Editor in Chief

Get tested for PID (2018)

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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.