NPA issues moratorium on prosecution of sex workers pending court ruling on decriminalisation

CAPE TOWN - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has issued a moratorium on the prosecution of sex workers pending a court decision on the decriminalisation of sex work.

This coming week, the Western Cape High Court will hear legal arguments that could reshape the future of sex work in the country.

The case - lodged by the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) - challenges the criminalisation of sex work as unconstitutional.

SWEAT spokesperson Megan Lessing said the decriminalisation of sex work is already part of government policy.

"It is part of the national strategic plan to address gender-based violence and it’s also part of government policy in terms addressing the HIV infection rate."

Lessing said this is the reason why the Department of Justice is not opposing the case.

"Because they already have intentions to decriminalise sex work. It has always been a problem of prioritising it and what sex workers are saying is it's time to start prioritising your own policies."

Lessing said the illicit sex industry couldbring in a potential tax revenue of R8 billion if decriminalised and regulated.