Carl Collison 18 Jan Joan Segale says even going to the shops can be traumatic because residents shout at sex workers, tell them they are not wanted and that they have HIV. She discovered it was a rubber bullet the painful way, when the second one hit her on her pubic bone.
A sex worker, Sithole was the target of a resident of Primrose, in the east of Johannesburg, where she works. Sithole is not alone. Every now and then, they even have snakes thrown at them.
And when they hit you, they hit you like you are a man. Even when sex workers are not on the streets waiting for clients, they are targeted. The simple act of going to the grocery store can result in them being verbally abused. This is a prostitute. You know, the idea that sex workers are connected to crime or anything bad that is happening in the neighbourhoods. Sex workers are breaking the law.
Residents of Primrose have the right to feel safe in their neighbourhood. They should not have to be afraid of coming out of their homes and being harassed or subjected to inappropriate, illegal behaviour. Enslin adds that CPF members have been victims of attacks by sex workers. We were also informed that the organisation Sisonke [which works with Sweat]would assist with educating the sex workers on cleanliness, how to dress, etcetera.
None of this has happened and the sex workers have continued doing as they want and working as they want, which is in breach of our agreement. Often what happens is [that]their phones are destroyed, so photos and video evidence are lost. They know that they are more powerful. I went there many times and Titled, Stop Harassing Us! According to Casey, many sex workers are not aware of their rights. We grew up with very difficult lives that put us here.
