VETERAN sex workers have raised concerns that their livelihoods are under threat as younger women entering the trade offer cheaper rates and riskier services.
During the 2026 International Sex Workers’ Rights and Health Advocacy Indaba, hosted by Voice of Our Voices (VOOV) at the Sibane Sami Hotel, Nomphilo Dlamini, one of the speakers, said the influx of younger sex workers had drastically reduced incomes.
“Before the young ones came, we were able to work and make enough money to survive,” she explained, noting that many regular clients had shifted to cheaper options.
Dlamini alleged that some newcomers engaged in unsafe practices, including heavily discounted overnight stays and agreeing to unprotected sex to attract customers. She warned that such behaviour not only endangered the health of the women themselves, but also increased community-wide risks of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
“What worries me the most is that some of them say they are doing this for fun, to get money for alcohol and drugs,” Dlamini said.
She emphasised that older sex workers regarded their work as a means of survival, with families and responsibilities depending on them.
Attempts to engage younger women in dialogue about the dangers of unsafe practices had largely failed, according to Dlamini.
“They do not want to listen. They think we are judging them, but we are only concerned about their health and our safety,” she added.
Sex workers are now calling for urgent intervention from advocacy groups and stakeholders to ease tensions and promote safer working conditions.
Dlamini specifically appealed to VOOV to facilitate dialogue and raise awareness about health risks and fair trade practices. Without action, she warned, the situation could escalate further, destabilising livelihoods and heightening public health risks.
Meanwhile, VOOV Director Lungile Khumalo has called on government to allocate a portion of the national budget towards programmes supporting sex workers, improving their access to health care and creating alternative income opportunities.
Khumalo said sustainable funding would enable organisations working with sex workers to expand health interventions, provide psychosocial support and equip individuals with skills to transition into other forms of employment.
“We wish sex workers could be awarded a portion in the national budget so that there is sustainable funding to improve health care services and create extra income sources for those who want to leave the trade,” she said.
She noted that through their initiatives, the organisation had already assisted several sex workers in starting small businesses, allowing them to support themselves and their families independently.
Beyond sex worker support, Khumalo highlighted that the organisation also assisted orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) in Ndabazezwe, Lavumisa, by paying school fees and providing essential supplies.
Khumalo stressed that formal recognition and inclusion in the national budget would strengthen their impact, reduce reliance on sex work and improve livelihoods and community wellbeing.
