Legalizing Prostitution for World Cup 2010
Much has been made about the strength of South Africa’s infrastructure to host a successful World Cup. To that end, South Africa is considering beefing up their capabilities in providing the best World Cup possible by legalizing prostitution.
It was South African police commissioner Jackie Selebi who first proposed the idea, arguing that if prostitution is legalized, it would free up police to deal with more pressing security issues, but last Wednesday, at an Arts and Culture Department meeting on its plans for social cohesion for 2010, the proposal was presented again, this time from ANC MP George Lekgetho. “It is one of the things that would make it [the tournament] a success because we hear of many rapes, because people don’t have access to them [women],” Lekgetho stated during a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture in Parliament.
Not everyone was as keen on the idea as Lekgetho, some seeing it as a joke, and others as an offense. Lekgetho’s idea is supported by many of the same arguments that have been thrown around before. Theoretically so long as it’s legal, it will be easy to license, regulate, and tax. It would provide money for the country, establish some guidelines and safety precautions for the workers and their patrons, and generally allow the prostitutes more organizational capabilities, providing more safety and empowerment. There is also the issue of HIV. Legalizing prostitution could pave the way for regulations on mandatory testing for HIV and other STD’s, making it safer for both the prostitutes and their patrons. Said Lekgetho, “If sex working is legalised people would not do things in the dark. That would bring us tax and would improve the lives of those who are not working.”
The remainder of the meeting focused on the customer service in South Africa, but the topic of legalizing prostitution for the 2010 tournament was left for further consideration, with another ANC MP, Christopher Gololo suggesting the topic be an issue given to the public to debate. However, DA MP Sydney Opperfman pointed out the danger in “commercializing” the relationship, stating, “You cannot attach a price to the deepest union between a man and a woman and link it to our tax base.”
On the other hand, the issue of human trafficking and abuse cannot be ignored as football fans across the globe flock to the fragile nation for football and all the other accessories that go with the game. Alcohol and sex seem to be as big a part of many fans’ experience as watching the matches itself. Legalizing prostitution may make fans safer, and make their access to prostitutes a little bit cleaner, but South Africa is correct in realizing that their country’s long-term identity will not be defined solely by 2010, and weighing the detriments compared to the benefits of such a drastic policy shift may spell disaster for the country in the long run, if the country isn’t ready for it.
Instead of pondering these profitable but theoretical possibilities, South Africa should look at what they projected they’d be able to produce when they were initially awarded the tournament, and legalizing prostitution was probably not in that dossier.
Its natural for South Africa to refer back to 2006, as Germany served as a fantastic host. The legalized public drinking and prostitution probably helped that along, and to that end, replicating Germany in terms of legalized prostitution makes sense to debate, but Germany also had readied stadiums and roads and transportation. Cart before the horse, really.
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Well, its a good way for SAfrica to get some of the money they spent back. On top of that if the fans enjoy it, cool. And if it goes on after the WC, all the better for tourists and local lads.
I think that if the country cannot provide amazing infrastructure like only Germany could, then they should focus on other areas to make the tournament as good as possible and legal prostitution will go a long way in doing that.
Cherie:
This was an intriguing article.
I would like to add a quote that President Mbeki made in reference to electrical power concerns that have plagued South Africa since the beginning of the year.
“Tourism companies have also expressed concern that blackouts could put potential visitors off attending the games. But Mbeki, in his annual state of the nation address, insisted that preparations for the first Africa-staged World Cup remain on course.
‘The current challenges we are facing have led some elsewhere in the world once more to question whether we will be able to host these tournaments (the World Cup and 2009 Confederations Cup) successfully,’ he said.
‘Of course, I have absolutely no doubt that we will honour our undertaking to FIFA and the world community of soccer players and lovers to create all the necessary conditions for the holding of the best ever FIFA Soccer World Cup tournament.’ “
Source:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=506125&cc=5901
How can prostitution be legalised for the benefit of an international football tournament and then outlawed once more? Let’s exploit the money brought in by the prostitutes, circulate it, and then tell them that they can’t exercise their trade any more. Sound like exploitation to you?
I am not against prostitution - female, or male for that matter - but I am concerned with the ethics of legalising something for such a short time for financial gain. It belittles the very serious debate regarding prostitution that is currently taking place across the world, especially in countries such as Sweden, where the pioneering example of Austria, Germany and Australia in the legalisation of prostitution has caused a stir.
i fell that prostitution would be a good idea. people are going to do it whether we like it or not. i also feel that prostitution should be legalized all over the world. countries would be able to gain more money and the u.s. would be able to pay back the debt we owe.
Prostitution is the use of a woman’s body for sex by a man…prostitution is not an idea. It is the mouth, the vagina, the rectum, penetrated usually by a penis, sometimes hands, sometimes objects, by one man and then another and then another and then another and then another. Here are 10 solid reasons why we South Africa shouldn’t be legalizing prostitution…for the world cup or any time afterwards:
1. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution is a gift to pimps, traffickers and the sex industry.
2. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution and the sex industry promotes sex trafficking.
3. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution does not control the sex industry.It expands it.
4. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution increases clandestine, hidden, illegal and street prostitution.
5. Legalization of prostitution and decriminalization of the sex Industry increases child prostitution.
6. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution does not protect the women in prostitution.
7. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution increases the demand for prostitution. It boosts the motivation of men to buy women for sex in a much wider and more permissible range of socially acceptable settings.
8. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution does not promote women’s health.
9. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution does not enhance women’s choice.
10. Women in systems of Prostitution do not want the sex industry legalized or decriminalized.
the question of whetha 2 legalise prostitution has divided society for a while now into two sides.. those with & those without morales. studies into the success of the legalization of prostitution have showed it to be to the contrary in countries such as, well many, if not all, of the countries that hav bowed to greed.
the issue of the dignity of women, let alone man, has been sidelined for wot, financial gain? and to what extent? along with the legalization of prostitution comes more ways for criminals to operate bigger and stronger syndicates to expose women.
Prostitution legal are these people crazy? They need to think about the consequences they might suffer. It is being taught at schools to have some dignity and to stand up for what is right and now the idea of legalisation is coming up.
So what they are trying to say is prostitution is an option for poor people. Why teach children to have dignity if it is something the government doesnt care about. In all i think its a crazy idea and making it legal may lower or prevent our chances of staging another huge sporting event as this world cup.
Considernig SA s a nation ravaged by HIV, AID, crime etc. would legalising the world’s oldest trade not make it seem more agreeable to be promiscuous. would it not promote adultery, divorces etc??
SA may be developing - but surely this would be a step backward. even if it is acceotable in many “developed/First World” nations!!! The mere suggestion is absurd!