A recent police operation in Durban has thrust the issue of prostitution in the city back into the spotlight, following the arrest of nine individuals for soliciting along Lilian Ngoyi Road. The arrests, carried out by the Durban Metro Police Service, were made in accordance with EThekwini Municipality Bylaws prohibiting such activities.
A photograph of the arrested 'juicy thigh vendors' has since gone viral on social media, sparking intense debate about the issue of sex work in the city. The Durban Metro Police Service released a statement reiterating their commitment to upholding the law and ensuring community safety, urging residents to report any suspicious or illegal activities. They provided a contact number for reporting: 031 36 10 000.
The arrests are just the latest development in an ongoing struggle by residents of the Morningside area to address what they describe as an out-of-control prostitution problem. For many residents, the situation has become unbearable. Martin Meyer, a former Morningside ward councillor, once described the scene on a rainy night: “Just wait, you’ll see the ladies now. Even on a night like this, even with the rain, you’ll get the guys coming, you’ll see them driving round the corner slowly, checking which one of the girls they want.”
Meyer, along with a group of concerned residents, then took matters into their own hands, forming a street patrol to deter prostitution activities. “We are not vigilantes, we are not physically chasing anyone away, we are not accusing anyone of being a prostitute. We are simply going to be visible on our streets, and this will hopefully hinder these types of activities happening in our area,” Meyer explained at the time.
The patrol’s presence has led some women to flee when they see the group approaching. The residents also reported visiting several lodges in the area, where they were offered sex services for R100 an hour.
Residents paint a picture of a neighbourhood increasingly blighted by the sex trade. Percival Gumede, an eight-year resident of Lilian Ngoyi Road, called the situation “ridiculous,” stating, “It’s like a cancer that’s eating at our society, right in the suburbs. When we are driving or walking around our own neighbourhood, you see the ladies. Even kids can see what is happening. Our vision as residents is to see our neighbourhood be a good place for a family to live. We don’t want this type of activity on our streets.”
Lionel Sewell, a 15-year resident of Bornick Road, echoed these sentiments, noting a significant escalation in the problem over the past four years. “We’ve never had this problem before. Over the past four years it's escalated and there is a lot of activity on the roads in and around Morningside. I am on the road every day and I see these girls on the side of the road. Sometimes they've even lifted their skirts or tops, it is not acceptable. I want to be part of this patrol so that we take back our community.”
Phil Tribe, a lifelong resident of the area, added his voice to the growing chorus of concern. “There have been such drastic changes to the Morningside area; you can't do that any more. You can't walk down the road without seeing a prostitute. It’s happening blatantly, in front of our eyes. In the last three years it’s gone out of control and it’s made worse by these so-called lodges that have popped up all over the area. It’s becoming a norm now, and some residents may be accepting of it, but we want to see change in our area,” he said.
Tribe also expressed concerns about the impact on property values, questioning whether he should continue investing in his home.
Another unnamed resident highlighted the link between prostitution and increased crime in the area. “The problem is that along with prostitution comes crime. We have never had cars and houses being broken into before, but it’s becoming increasingly common now. There’s also fighting on the streets between the women, over territories. You can’t walk on the streets; ladies will flash you their wares as you drive by. There are lodges popping up everywhere. Some hotspots that we are aware of have condoms and bottles strewn on the road when you pass by in the early morning. Is this any way to live?” she questioned.
The situation in Morningside is not isolated. Last August, a police raid in a Point Road location known for drug and prostitution rings resulted in the arrest of over 150 undocumented migrants. The raid targeted hijacked buildings used as crime dens. The discovery of firearms and drugs during the raid further underscores the complex relationship between prostitution and organised crime.
The debate extends beyond the immediate concerns of Durban residents. A previous sex work symposium organised by the KwaZulu-Natal legislature highlighted the alarming involvement of underage school pupils in the sex trade. Nonkanyiso Msane, a sex worker for five years, described observing a concerning trend of school learners engaging in prostitution on weekends.
“I was 23 when I became a sex worker and now I’m 28 years of age. Over the years, I’ve seen a new trend where school learners who are underage work as prostitutes on weekends and go back to school on Monday. This is very harmful for them because they are vulnerable and they don’t understand the streets. They are also taken advantage of by older men. Some eventually quit school.” Msane argued that decriminalisation could offer protection for these vulnerable young people.
The ongoing debate about the legalisation of sex work is a global one, with sex workers, activists, and lobbyists advocating for decriminalisation. They argue that criminalisation exacerbates issues like HIV transmission and exposes sex workers to violence and exploitation.
Jules Kim, CEO of Scarlet Alliance, an Australian sex workers association, clarified that decriminalisation does not equate to deregulation, but rather recognises sex work as legitimate employment.
Katlego Rasibitse, an advocacy officer at Sisonke, a South African sex workers movement, highlighted the desire for sex workers to be treated as legitimate workers, accessing financial services like loans and mortgages.
