SWEAT argues for court to cut down number of legal teams in its sex work decriminalisation case

CAPE TOWN - Lawyers for the Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) on Monday argued for the Western Cape High Court to whittle down the number of legal teams in its sex work decriminalisation case.

Presiding Judge Andre le Grange has the difficult task of deciding which of the 16 applicants will make the cut to argue in the case.

Outside court, a small group of SWEAT supporters gathered to protest the criminalisation of sex work.

Lawyer for SWEAT, Isabel Goodman, on Monday asked Judge Le Grange to minimise the amount of legal teams in its case to decriminalise sex work in the country.

Sixteen NGOs have made applications to join the case as "friends of the court" to argue in favour of the decriminalisation of sex work.

Goodman argued that where the applicants do not make new submissions, they should be excluded.

Le Grange agreed, saying that some the legal teams' arguments were overlapping and would result in more delays and costly resources.

"We would, with the greatest respect, my lord, urge your lordship not simply to let all amicus in," Goodman said.

"Yes, I'm going to whittle them down. there's no way... it's overlapping," the judge said.

Le Grange adjourned proceedings to make a decision on the hearing on Tuesday.