Izwi Lethu: Our Voices Newsletter #8

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE

Issue 8

86

Izwi Lethu: Our Voice

October 2015

A NEWSLETTER BY SEX WORKERS FOR SEX WORKERS

Editor’s Note

by Tanaka, Editor-­‐in-­‐Chief

Dear Reader, As we draw close to the end of the year, there is a series of exciting events lined up. These include Sixteen Days of Activism Against Women and Children Abuse, World AIDS Day, International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, and many more!

For those that have not been saving money during the course of the year, too bad. Christmas is around the corner and I can see 2016 peeping from the same corner. I can’t imagine the festive season with empty pockets.

Nonetheless, no need to despair. So much can be done in the couple of months left and the little you save can go a long way.

In this last quarter of the year, there is excitement all over and people often lose their lives too. Have fun, but also please be safe!

Though the year is almost through, we have some exciting articles coming up in our November/December double issue.

In the meantime, enjoy these powerful

IN THIS ISSUE

stories this month’s featured writers and be sure to listen to them voice their stories on MoVE’s blog: methodsvisualexplore.tumblr.com Keep well and play safe!!

Till next month…

Photos from

Featured in this issue are photos taken by October Feature Writers and Contributing Editor Clara.

Follow MoVE on Twitter and Instagram (@MoVESAfrica) and on Tumblr (methodsvisualexplore.tumblr.com) for more.

Love, Tanaka

Masthead

Editor-­‐in-­‐Chief: Tanaka

Managing Editor: Greta

Contributing Editor: Clara

Contributing Editor: Linda Feature Writer: Makzo Feature Writer: Nandi Feature Writer: Lerato Izwi Lethu is a collaboration between Sisonke Sex Workers M ovement and ACMS’s MoVE Project

Contact MoVE at: methodsvisualexplore@gmail.com

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A Place of My Own

by Makzo, Feature Writer

It happened that I faced hard times a few months back with the work that I am doing. I hardly got clients. I walked home with not more than a hundred rand a day, so I ended up facing hard times as well in my relationship. My boyfriend became so abusive that he would demand money for himself to buy alcohol and drugs, and if I didn’t have the money he would beat me up.

Sometimes I did not go to work because I couldn’t move out of the bed. While I was in that situation, he would demand sex, and if I denied him, he would throw me out of the house and embarrass me in front of people. I had been in this relationship for more than a year. I had to force myself to stay with someone so abusive because I needed a place to live.

I thought that he would change one day.

He would start swearing, calling me names like you whore, magosha, street kid. He said you are nobody because he knew my back ground at home. That hurt me so much. I chose to move out and stay with my friends. It was okay at the beginning, because I was out of the abusive house. I tried to pull myself together to live. My friends started gossiping about me, and now I had to find my own place to stay. They felt that I was overcrowding them in their space. I had to move back to the township because I could not afford rentals any more in town. I am now renting my own place in the township.

A Father’s Kiss Turned Wrong

by Nandi, Feature W riter

I remember it was 1990. I was 11 years old, staying with my mom and my stepfather. I used to love my stepfather very much even forgetting that he is not my biological father. One day he gave

Photo by Makzo

me R100 and said to me, “Don’t tell your mother, she’s going to take it all.” I then kept quiet and never told my mom because I was happy and excited that I was going to buy everything at school.

He then gave me R120 and told me, “Do you see daddy loves you?” I replied and said, “Yes, I love you too daddy.” He said, “OK, if you love daddy come and kiss daddy.” I kissed him but something surprised me in that moment; when I was kissing him, he put his tongue in my mouth. I never said a word at that time because my mind was on the money that he gave me. After he asked, “Are you gonna kiss daddy again tomorrow?”

I said yes. The following day I took a bath. He asked for a kiss before I got dressed. I kissed him. He started to touch my vagina and asked me not to cry, saying there’s nothing bad. I kept quiet, and he pulled off his clothes and asked me to lie on the bed. He said he is not going to do bad to me. He raped me.

I cried because of the pain. I was also bleeding. He stopped and asked me to bath and not to tell anyone. He said I must not go to school. During the day he went out. When he came back, he came with pain tablets, sweets, and chocolates. He gave me the tablets and said it will be fine. I ended up feeling

better. Later he went to work and reminded me not to tell my mom. I said OK. My mom arrived. When I was preparing to sleep, I told her everything.

Instead of taking me to the police or to the hospital, she shouted, insulting me and accusing me of lying. She then said she didn’t want to hear me talking about this thing again otherwise she would beat me up. The way things got worse I knew that she never asked him, because he was repeating to rape me. Mom worked a dayshift, and dad a nightshift.

If my mom was behaving like that, who was going to help me. One day after she left for work, I went to the train station.

People asked by the station where I was going. I told them I was going to my mom in Johannesburg. The train arrived in Johannesburg. I got out of the train.

On my way going up and down at the station, there was a lady who was sitting around. I asked her where she stays. She said, “I don’t have a place to stay. I live on the street.” I started to ask for food on the street. I was walking, and a guy called me. We went to his house and had sex. After he gave me money. I was very happy that day. That’s when I started to be a sex worker. I continue to be a sex worker on the street even now.

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Scars of a Relationship

by Lerato, Feature W riter

The reason why I started to be a sex worker is because of my boyfriend. We were staying together, and we were both working. I was working as a domestic worker. I got pregnant, and I gave birth. Then after my baby was one month old, I went back to work, and I took my baby to the creche. My boyfriend asked me to stop working when the child was six months old so I could take care of the baby.

When my child was one year old, my boyfriend started abusing me, shouting at me, insulting me, beating me, and telling me how useless I was. The fights started when I asked him for money to buy nappies, food, and clothes for the baby. Whenever he got paid, we fought, and he would go out and come back drunk. He started doing drugs.

He started to smoke dagga, and then he also went for cocaine. He started to come home late—midnight or 1:00 in the morning. Whenever I asked him where

When he came back, I asked him about that, and he told me to leave him alone, I must go away and leave him in peace in his house. I refused to go because I thought it was one of those fights we usually had every day. Then that day he was so aggressive and as we were fighting he took out a knife and stabbed me in the neck a few times. I fell down, and that’s when I lost consciousness.

At that time we fought in front of the baby who was one year six months. He ran out and left me and our child. He left me there to die. I ended up sleeping in hospital for a month, unable to eat. They were feeding me through tubes. My family took my child from one of the neighbours. Since then I never talk to my boyfriend, and I didn’t take him to court for the sake of my baby, but we never got back together again. I told myself that I didn’t need a man in my life because I was so traumatised, angry, and so hateful of all men.

I felt like I could kill them all, and there would be only women left on earth.

Photo by Lerato

Photo by Lerato

After I came back from the hospital, I went to stay with my cousin for two years without working. One day, I was in a taxi going to town to look for job. I sat next to a lady, and we started chatting. I told her my story and she also shared her story with me. She told me what kind of job she was doing (meaning sex work). I took interest in the job and she introduced me to other ladies she was working with. They also introduce me to their clients. That’s how I started to do the job of sex work.

he was, we would start fighting. One day he went outside and left his phone in the house on the charger. I took it and read his messages. That’s when I found out that he was cheating on me.

Some Terrible Things Happen in Sex Work

by M akzo, F eature Writer

After a few months I got used to my job as a sex worker. I then joined a group of other sex workers, who robbed the clients. It happened like this: we agreed with the bar ladies to inform us when the customer is carrying a lot of money. She would then send a message to us. When the client comes we already knew he has got money. One would go and stay under the bed, while the other one is busy with the client. The one under the bed would start to search the client’s pockets and take all his money and even his cell phone. We used to get about ten thousand rand and even more, then we shared the money. It was not easy but because we got a lot of money we continued with the game. One night around ten o’ clock, I got a client and we planned the game again. After we finished I was busy dressing myself, and my client was busy searching his pockets. He looked at me, and I just ignored him. Suddenly I felt a big slap that knocked me down. YEYI! He beat me up and stabbed me seven times.

Luckily the security guards heard the noise. They quickly ran to the room, and they called the ambulance for me. I stayed for one week in the hospital. I couldn’t breathe properly. I stopped the

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game after the incident and moved to another space, where I am still working even right now.

others about the Heritage Day celebration.

Culture Traditions in Our Community

by Clara, Contributing Editor

Photo by C lara

On the 23rd of September 2015, we attended a Heritage Day celebration that took place at the Welfare Centre in Diepkloof, Soweto. The first speaker took me by surprise when he opened the celebration by saying, “Xenophobia is not African. We are all African and South Africa belongs to everyone who lives in it.” This was so touching especially being told by a South African. It shows that not every South African is xenophobic.

He went on to say ‘’No one is born to hate others because of the skin colour or gender.’’ People have learnt to hate other people but they can be taught how to love, meaning those who are xenophobic must change their mind set.

The speaker continued by saying he is not an African because he was born in Africa but Africa was born in him. He went on to say that an Indian guy asked him why Africans were suffering when there are so many black Africans. Then the Indian guy told the speaker that the Indians help each other.

The South African Government has been making efforts to assist foreign nationals by issuing asylums seekers with documentation to enable them to study and work in South Africa.

Some people think foreigners are the only migrants but if you came from Limpopo or Durban to Johannesburg then you are also a migrant. The city of Johannesburg is trying to address the issue of locals fighting with foreigners.

He closed the meeting by saying everyone at the meeting was an ambassador so we are going to tell

sometimes they struggle to find reliable people to look after their children.

Opening a crèche requires a lot of work as this will be a business that is looking after other people’s children. The Department has some requirements that need to be followed, like are the people trained to look after children, where will the children be housed, and is the house safe and so on.

So although I am not able to answer you right now in terms of what is required I think it is possible and it is a great idea to think about starting a crèche but I would also advise that all the required steps are taken so that support can also be asked from the state and others to assist in terms of the running of the crèche.

I will also make sure that I share this question with Sisonke and SWEAT and ask if they can follow up and maybe get someone from the Department of Social Development to attend one of the workshops to speak about this and also if they can write something for a future edition of Izwi Lethu.

So please continue reading this newsletter and also attending workshops, as this will be addressed soon.

Regards, Mastoep

Dear Mastoep

Photo by Makzo

Ask Dear Mastoep

Some of us sex workers work with the police to rob clients, which makes business slow for us and that should stop.

by Dear Mastoep

Dear I am confused,

Dear Mastoep, Since many sex workers have children, do you think it is possible for sex workers to get together to run a crèche for each other?

Dear Business Minded,

Yes there are a number of sex workers who have young children and

I am confused as to why sex workers would work with the police especially to steal from their clients as that is bad for business. Stealing from clients whether this is being done with the police or other people is very bad for business and will make business slow and low as clients will not want to come to do business where they do not feel safe. For those who are doing this please stop

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If you know of sex workers who are doing this tell them to STOP and report them to the authorities, well only the ones who are involved in committing a crime.

Many people think that sex work is wrong and I can tell you that there is nothing wrong about doing sex work but there is something WRONG about stealing and dirtying the sex work industry.

Regards, Mastoep

Serial Killer in Namibia

by Linda, Contributing Editor

I was working in Namibia before l came to South Africa in 2004. There was a white man who was killing sex workers who were working in the streets. That man used to disguise himself.

Sometimes you would see him slender without beard and sometimes he is big with beard, and he was driving different cars every time he came to the street as

part of his disguise. One day the same guy stopped for me and asked me to jump inside the car. He asked me a lot of questions like, ‘’what is your name and where do you come from?’’ So l told him that l was from Zimbabwe, and he told me to get out of the car and go wait for him at the bus stop.

So l went to the bus stop and waited for the guy to come and pick me, but he never did. l was so angry that the guy did not come. After about an hour l saw the guy picking up a Zambian lady, and l was so disappointed. The Zambian lady was staying at the same guest house with me. Since that day when she was picked up, she didn’t returned to the guest house for about four days and on the fifth day we heard the news that there was a head of a lady that was found in the dust bin. They described the head, and we discovered that the head was for the Zambian lady. My friend accompanied me to the police station to tell them about what l knew. I told them about the white man who wanted to pick me and how he lied to me and picked the Zambian lady. After two days l heard that they found the body and other parts of that lady in each and different dust bins alongside the road from Katimamulilo border to Windhoek. Its like she was cut into pieces, and she was not the only one who was killed by this man. We sex workers worked together with the police to catch the serial killer, and there was a reward for 20 000 rands if anyone catch the guy. So the police were so helpful because they also wanted a piece of the reward. After a long struggle the white man was caught by the police. On the day of the sentencing all sex workers went to the court to listen. They asked the guy why he was killing Zambian sex workers, and he said one of them infected him with HIV so that’s why he was killing them and he is still going to finish them all. l was lucky because of my accent, and he knew that l was not from Zambia but Zimbabwe. The white guy was sentenced to prison for killing sex workers.

NOW. What happens if a client comes back to take revenge? This behavior for a few extra Rands could cost someone her life.

Photo by N andi

Guest Column: Be in Charge of Your Health, Be a Responsible Male Sex Worker

by Nicholas Khauli, PHC Nurse, Anova Health Institute

All men face certain health risks, but men having sex with men are more prone to more specific health issues. Our behaviours determine the level of health risks we are prone to. Male sex worker to be specific have many health related concerns to think of. So in a situation like this what is it that one must know?

HIV infection, be aware of risk of infection, get tested more often.

Negotiate on using condom with water based lubricant, oil based lubricants makes the latex condom weak and break easily. Not using condoms also puts you at risk.

If you notice any symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), like discharge, burning pee, genital sores, warts, visit your nearest clinic for

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treatment. Syphilis can present symptoms after some times. It is advisable that when you are at the clinic request syphilis screening test. Is it only STIs that you should worry about? The answer is a BIG NO. Serious liver infection like Hepatitis A and B can also be transmitted during sexual contact.

Also you can get screened for Hep B at your local clinic. You will never be penalised for visiting the clinic; it is one of your rights.

Alcohol for socialising is not bad but excessive drinking is worse. Your liver helps controls toxins that enter your body but too much of those the liver cannot take. It gets tired and tissue gets damaged. Have regular clinic visit for general check-­‐ups. Know your numbers (blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, weight ).

If you think you might be at risk of getting infected, wait a minute. Do you know anything about PREP? Yes PREP

not PEP. This is the drug used to reduce the risk of HIV infection. But before it is issued the clinician must ensure that you are HIV negative. It is not yet available for public dispensation but one can access the drug privately. Visit NDOH website for the latest developments.

A queen must be gorgeous. Eat well and healthy. You can maintain that figure by making sure you have all required nutrients. Don’t be anxious because you want to be like Kim or Beyoncé. Love your body, just take care of it the way it is. You are up late afternoon till early morning, Give that body a break, rest enough. It will improve your mental efficiency.

Make sure that you do not miss a dose of your ARVs if you are on treatment and use condoms and lubes to keep virus suppressed, you will never know your next client’s status. Protect yourself always. There are MSM friendly clinics

around City of JOBURG, you can visit H4men website for clinic sites.

For extended articles, audio recordings of writers reading their stories, and many more pictures, check out: methodsvisualexplore.tumblr.com

All stories in this newsletter express the views of the writers and not necessarily those of these supporting organisations.