Newcastle prostitutes chat about adapting to COVID-19 regulations

Standing at street corners, alongside busy roads, sex workers are not an uncommon sight in the town of Newcastle. 

In fact, just as anywhere else in the country, prostitution in Newcastle is a career choice that secures a steady income. It is a way of life that not many understand, but for those who sell their bodies, it pays the bills and allows them to feed their families.

During the global pandemic, scores of businesses find themselves facing overwhelming obstacles in a tough economic environment. Seeing major companies finding themselves struggling to survive in the current climate. But in these trying times, how are sex workers surviving?

“Business is much slower than it was before COVID-19 started. Before this all started, I was making anywhere between R700 to R1000 a day. Now, I am making a maximum of R200 a day,” says Thando, who has been prostituting for a year and a half.

Working from 8am until 5pm during the week, Thando explains one of the contributing factors to a lack of business is the fear of contracting COVID-19.

“We use hand sanitisers and wear our face masks. We don’t even lie down anymore, but rather do doggy style as to avoid close facial contact. Nor do we perform blowjobs anymore. But people are too scared,” she explains.

Thando says she has seen a steady decline in her white and Indian clientele. Something which she says is problematic. “White and Indian men tend to spend more money than the black clients,” she says.

Lerato, who has been prostituting for three years, agrees with Thando in that business has slowed down. “People don’t have that much money anymore and it is affecting our work. What people don’t understand is that we need to feed our families and pay bills, just like they do.”

Lerato adds that police have also been coming down harder on sex workers. “They keep talking about COVID-19 and if we are caught, we have to pay R1500 for bail. Where are we going to get bail money now with business becoming less and less. If we can’t pay bail, we are looking at six months in jail, which is something we can’t afford.”

Lerato says prior to the pandemic, she could easily make R1000 a day. “Now I am lucky if I make R100 a day.”

Amahle says she has been prostituting for four years. “I do this to feed my children, but it is becoming harder to do because of COVID-19. What makes it worse, is that I can’t claim UIF.”

While she is also struggling, Amahle claims she is fortunate in that she receives a monthly grant to assist with her children. “But food and school feels have become so expensive, the grant money does not last long. I need the money I make on the streets for my children.” 

As these three brave prostitutes attempt to continue earning a living during these difficult times, they claim not all of their clients appreciate their attempts at COVID-19 safety.

“Some are understanding and realise that missionary, kissing and blowjobs are no longer allowed. But there are those who get cross and rather forceful, as they want to have the same kind of service as before COVID-19,” Lerato explains.

It is in situations such as these that Amahle explains that she and other prostitutes fall victim to gender-based violence. “It becomes a bit more difficult for us to report because of what we do for a living,” she says.

These 3 women, along with many more like them who brave the streets every day, need more understanding versus “high and mighty” judgement from us flawed people, who have no idea what these souls endure on a daily basis. 

Some of what they deal with daily would ruin most woman’s minds after one “bad incident” let alone repeat “bad incident” days, months and years.  So show a little compassion towards a world you know nothing about.

Despite facing possible violence and a lack of clientele, all three women claim they will continue prostituting as It is a career which they have grown to accept due to circumstance and has become a way of life like anyone else.