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SEX WORKERS FIND NEW PLACE FOR THEIR BUSINESS IN MANZINI

19/01/2019 06:09:00 By Bonsile Makhubu

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MANZINI – When a door closes another opens for commercial sex workers. The workers have since taken advantage of another abandoned government structure to conduct their business.

A couple of years ago, they used to host their customers at the Ministry of Agriculture building situated next to the Manzini Market.
Currently, they are using one of the oldest buildings in the city, which is situated opposite the Somhlolo Park, formerly known as the Jubilee Park. The building houses the Manzini Swazi National Court.

It was once occupied by the Manzini Regional Administrator, then known as the District Commissioner (DC), before the office was moved to a new building situated next to the Manzini Magistrates Court.
During a visit to the historic building early this week, used condoms were found littered inside one of the offices. The building is slightly over 65 years old.

Marriage

It is flanked by offices of the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, TB and Malaria Clinic and the Manzini Post Office.
The office was once used as a conference room. It is directly opposite the courtroom.

The conference room is a sore sight as used condoms, tissues, foam plates, beer cans, cigarettes butts, plastic bags, peeling floor tiles, old furniture and many other things are littered all over.

Worse, the ceiling is falling while the paint on the four corners of the room is also peeling off.
The corridors leading to the offices around the building are also not in a good state.

Some sex workers who were engaged by this publication on Thursday evening confirmed that they used the rooms to service their clients.
Even though the ladies were sceptical to speak to the reporter, they claimed that the place was quiet and private.
“The locks to the doors were broken, but not by us. It would be sad if the place could be demolished,” one of the ladies said.

refused

When asked about their services, the workers refused to go into details, stating that it was private.
About three weeks ago, Swazi News published that a certain sex worker claimed to make approximately E20 000 from the trade.
Worth noting, the building is approximately 200 metres from where the ladies usually showcase their ‘business’.

The sex workers are normally found standing near the King Somhlolo Park and the Manzini Post Office, which are both situated along Nkoseluhlaza Street.
In some instances, the workers flag down motorists with the intention of offering them the services.
Once they reach an agreement on the price, the client is led to the abandoned government building.

In an earlier interview with one of the workers, she stated that they usually carry condoms for safety.
Drawn for a comment about the night activities, Mathokoza Thwala, the Public Relations Officer of the Municipal Council of Manzini, said prostitution was illegal in Eswatini.

continue

“We can only hope that the police, who are security agents of the city, will continue to patrol and monitor that area so that in the event they find people engaged in illegal activities – they handle them in terms of the law,” Thwala pointed out.

Also, Thwala encouraged owners of properties in the city to make sure these were in a good state so that they are not abused by people who are not authorised to have access to them.

He then advised that the Ministry of Public Works and Transport would be the best to comment on the maintenance of government structures.

sentiments

Thwala’s sentiments were shared by the Manzini Regional Administrator (RA), Prince Gcokoma.
The prince succinctly stated that the building was under the ministry.

He explained that they moved out of those offices because they were condemned by the ministry of health.
“Those who wanted to continue to utilise them, were doing so at their own risk,” he added.

When told that the offices have been converted into a sex haven, the administrator stated that sex workers might have taken an opportunity after realising that the fence erected behind the building had been vandalised.
“The institutions that occupied the building did not have strong night watchmen to provide security,” the RA said.
In jest, Prince Gcokoma stated that sex workers were found everywhere around the city.

Ministry of Public Works and Transport Communications Officer Mayibongwe Dlamini reported that the officer who was supposed to issue a comment on the matter was on assignment.
Dlamini stated that the ministry’s Chief Building Engineer, Mkhululi Mamba, was held up in parliament.

various

In August last year, a total of 30 sex workers were arrested in an attempt to ‘clean-up’ the city centre. These women were found along various streets of the city.
The several suspected hotspots which were raided by the police, included areas such as Liqhaga Flats, Foodliner, Kowloon, Autozone, Nkoseluhlaza Street, near the National Library and Bhunu Mall.
The accused persons’ charge sheets stated that they were found loitering for purposes of prostitution in different public places.
According to Wikipedia, it was estimated that there were around 4 000 sex workers in the country in 2015, with the highest concentrations in Matsapha, Manzini, Malkerns and Ezulwini. Most sex workers are Mozambicans or emaSwati. It is reported that sex workers are subject to abuse and forced sex by police. Some sex workers occasionally travel to other countries, especially Maputo in Mozambique, to work on a temporary basis. Many women and children turn to prostitution because of poverty.