Marianne Merten
Religious leaders in Cape Town have mobilised against sex tourism following reports that city officials are looking into establishing red light districts.
On Wednesday representatives of the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths were
ready to address a unicity council meeting in support of a motion by the African
Christian Democratic Party against sex tourism and “any marketing that alludes
to or emphasises sexual behaviour or affinity as part of the city’s tourism campaign”.
Outside the civic centre about 200 people brandished posters reading: “Cape Town
belongs to God”, “Biblical values for Cape Town” and “Don’t let sex tourism rape
the Cape”.
But because the African Christian Democratic Party wanted a vote from council,
effectively a policy decision, the matter was referred to a portfolio committee
where policy issues are normally dealt with.
A unicity representative said ahead of any decision there would have to be submissions from everyone, including groups working with sex workers.
Since the beginning of the year religious leaders across faiths have come together to oppose any potential action that could turn Cape Town into another
Bangkok. This came in the wake of local newspaper reports that a Democratic Alliance councillor supported the idea of a red light district. However, at this
stage there are no official steps in this direction.
Wednesday’s motion by African Christian Democratic Party councillor Ivan Kirsten
was tabled “as a Christian Democrat according to the principle of salt and light”.
It also demanded the amendment of a headline in the unicity’s development masterplan from promoting alternate lifestyles in a tolerant city to that of a
family-friendly environment “in acknowledgement that the traditional family represents the factory of the only future we have”.