Acting head of the National Prosecuting Authority Mokotedi Mpshe was slammed on Wednesday for his criticism of proposals to decriminalise prostitution for the 2010 World Cup.
”The criminalisation of sex work does not stop sex work from being a career.
”It only makes it a career filled with insecurity, abuse and harassment,” said Sex Workers’ Education and Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat) director Eric Harper.
On Tuesday, the Star reported that Mpshe, speaking in his personal capacity, had said proposals to decriminalise prostitution would damage South Africa’s ”morals”.
”What happens if prostitution is decriminalised? It will become a career — think for yourselves. What will happen to our morals? In my opinion we have to be very, very careful,” Mpshe was reported as saying.
In a statement, Sweat said: ”This view is shortsighted, as it fails to take note of the realities on the ground, and the respect for human rights enshrined in our Constitution.” — Sapa