Sex Workers In Soiuth Africa....

By Karen Breytenbach

The Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat) has asked the Cape High Court to order the South African Police Service and Cape Town Metro Police to stop its "continued unlawful, wrongful and arbitrary arrests" of sex workers for ulterior purposes such as harassment or sexual favours. Arguing before Judge Burton Fourie yesterday, Wim Trengove, SC, for Sweat, said sex workers had been arrested on charges that had nothing to do with prostitution, such as loitering or traffic violations, for the purposes of punishment, harassment or exploitation. Sex workers were often locked up overnight, in large numbers, and released without being charged or prosecuted, without dockets opened or statements taken, he said.

Trengove said police officers had to be interdicted from making arrests when they knew full well that the arrests would not lead to prosecution. Commenting on the police's point that seeking the interdict was pointless, because they knew they could not arrest unlawfully, Trengove said courts have long issued interdicts to prevent illegal conduct in order to let guilty parties know the "spotlight of the law was on them". An example of this was the prevention of domestic violence. The SAPS and the Metro Police denied the allegations and said Sweat had failed to show the court any evidence of their alleged wrongdoing. Ishmail Jamie, SC, for the police, said Sweat had failed to show that the police had ulterior motives in the examples of arrests they relied on.Even if the court found ulterior motives, an interdict was not the answer. He said the National Prosecuting Authority should have been joined if the issue of non-prosecution was to be addressed. Ashton Schippers, SC, for the city, said once Metro Police officers arrested someone and delivered them to a police station, the case and period of detention were out of their hands. He said Sweat's allegations were vague and they failed to demonstrate what was at the heart of their case: that the force consistently unlawfully arrested sex workers. He said Sweat's past complaints have been dealt with in internal investigations, and no evidence of misconduct was found. Schippers said an interdict would have a "chilling effect on the fight against crime, because it would intimidate (police officers) into not making arrests". This would cause them to "fail in their duty to prevent crime". Trengove, in reply, said the argument about non-prosecution should not be misunderstood: sex workers were not calling for prosecution. "They are not asking for immunity from arrest. What they demand is to be afforded the same respect and dignity as everybody else, including the most powerful in society. They are entitled not to be rounded up as though they are contaminating the streets."Trengove said there was no merit in the argument that the interdict sought would inhibit the fight against crime."There is no greater threat to the fight against crime and the rule of law than police officers who take the law into their own hands, because they are frustrated about the state's unwillingness to prosecute."Judgment was reserved.


This article was originally published on page 6 of Cape Times on March 06, 2009

Reproductive Power

"I have 11 children. People criticized me, and doctors recommended sterilization. NOW understands that reproductive freedom includes having all choices available to us—including having children and being able to raise them." —

Dolores Huerta, co-founder, United Farm Workers of America, and president, Dolores Huerta Foundation

My womb as Political Policy....

"Every time a governmental system decides what I should do with my body, I become less of a human being. This country's freedoms do not stop at my voice, but extend across every cell of my body and every part of my soul."

— Dakia Davis, North Carolina NOW leader and activist

Black men~ ISO~ SW,SH,SA Women

Memo: from all of your "Black" Mothers...

We are, patiently, awaiting your apologies, for choosing to inform us (in the most obtuse manor possible) that we, the quintessential picture of strength, love, support and endurance, are not good enough for you...
At birth, When we looked upon your innocent faces and dedicated our lives to you and your well-being, we could have never know that those precious little hands (which we kissed and held) would, one day grow up to slap us in our faces (by way of your choosing to create families with women who’s experiences would never be entrenched in our experiences... Or Your historical experiences)

We are patiently awaiting your apologies for telling US your "Black" mothers, we, simply, are not good enough for you....

And... as all "Black" mothers all over the world do, we will be here to help you pick up the pieces from the messes you make and to aid you in making better, more informed and respectful choices... And… to Love you in spite of YOURSELVES.

All of Our Love,
Your Mothers

Seranade

Seduce me in the language of your father and I will plant it's seed in the fertile soil of my life
Seranade me in the tounge of your mother and I will water it with the tears of my love

Baptize me in the wisdom of your culture and I will worship every day, in its grace
Spill your inhibitions into my space and I will drown them, evaporating them away

Seduce me in the language of your father
Seranade me in the tounge of your mother

Teach me to walk the path of your ancestors and I will etch your footprints on the road of destany
Give me wings and I will take flight over the land of your home

Light the darkend corridores of my soul and its fire will kindle and burn brighter than the stars that guides you
Sing for me your song and I will dance the dance of the ages

Seduce me in the language of your father
Seranade me in the tounge of your mother

Let me harness the wind and I will speak to you through the trees
Quench me in the rains of Spring and I will submit to the anointing of your Sprit

Instruct me as to sew your fruit and in our harvest there will be no famine
embrace me and I will linger in your midst

Seduce me in the language of your father
Seranade me in the tounge of your mother

Seduce me in the language of your father
Seranade me in the tounge of your mother