The prostitution industry across Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, according to local prostitutes, is extremely well supported, with a diverse client base making use of their services. However, there is a darker side to the prostitution sector that is even leaving local sex workers disgusted by what is transpiring.
This comes after girls as young as 12 have been seen working the streets of Newcastle.
In addition to this, an emergency personnel responder noted a young girl who was recently seen walking through the Newcastle CBD by herself.
“A colleague and I were on our way to the office recently, when we saw a young girl near Montague Street at around 10 pm. We thought something was wrong and stopped to see if she needed help. It was then that we found she was a prostitute and about 13 years old,” said the source, who opted to remain anonymous.
Speaking with Newcastillian News, local prostitutes explained that there is currently an influx of young girls working as prostitutes across the Northern KwaZulu-Natal town. “I know of between five to six girls from 14 to 17 who are working as prostitutes in Newcastle,” said Thembi*, who has been working Newcastle’s streets for the past two years.
“These are girls whose stepfathers have been having sex with them from small, and are then sent out to make money. Because they have been having sex from a young age, they don’t see the problem with what they are doing. But there are other girls whose parents have died and now have to feed their younger siblings as their relatives either can’t help them or won’t help them,” said Thembi*.
Lerato*, another prostitute, further explained that numerous underage prostitutes are working in town. “I would say there are about 12 of them. All the underage girls work along York Street and some of the older sex workers are disgusted by it,” she said, pointing out that she was once an underage girl working as a prostitute.
“I was underage when I began working as a prostitute in Johannesburg in 2015. I won’t say why I started, but I needed money and eventually moved to Newcastle to try a new, clean life with a legitimate job and I ended up becoming a prostitute again. However, I am a grown woman now, I know the consequences of my actions and this work, and children should not be doing this,” exclaimed Lerato*. She further pointed out that young sex workers often chose this career as it offered an escape from poverty, fed their drug habits, or because they felt forced into it— a heartbreaking reality most cannot comprehend.
When law enforcement does spot the girls in town, Thembi said the young girls would often lie about their ages and avoid the area for a few days to avoid being spotted again.
But the question is, which group of men use the young girls’ service?
According to another prostitute, Melissa*, while these young girls find themselves in an atrocious working environment, they are highly sought after by local men.
“Myself and some others have noticed that white men like young girls the most, and you can see that they are a bit rough with them because they walk a bit stiff when they come back. African men usually try to avoid them, as they are scared to be caught, but when they do use these young girls, they are also rough,” said Melissa.
Thembi”* said she believed it was a close tie between White and Indian men, while Teepee* said from her experience, Indian men sought young girls the most.
The sex workers claimed they had reported the matter to trusted individuals within law enforcement and non-profit organisations. However, they believed that while they were often judged by the Newcastle community for their career options, Newcastle men needed to take a look at themselves. “The men using these girls need to be punished because, without them, the girls would not be here,” declared Melissa*.
As a town where many people think they know one another, it is always shocking to learn about the truths of local people.
Furthermore, if you know of any men who are involved in using the services of underage girls, you have a human responsibility to report them to the police. These are disgusting pigs parading as men and do not deserve to breathe the air of free people. They belong behind bars with other criminals—do the right thing!
As Newcastle’s local prostitutes warn the community of underage girls working Newcastle’s streets, what are your thoughts? Share your views in the comment section below.
The real names of the prostitutes have been altered to protect their identities.
