Lobby groups that support the full decriminalisation of sex trade in South Africa have warned that a temporary halt in pushing through the proposed legislation will have dire consequences for those working in the sector.
Regulation of the sex trade appears to be the government’s final hurdle towards decriminalisation, with the justice department not yet having started a consultation process with relevant stakeholders.
Deputy Minister John Jeffery recently said the proposed Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill must be revised before final approval by cabinet, which had previously given its nod in November before the bill was opened for public comment in January.
But during his speech last month on the department’s budget vote Jeffery said the state’s law advisers had raised concerns about the bill, which repeals the Sexual Offences Act and section 11 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act to decriminalise the sale and purchase of adult sexual services.
The bill also expunges the criminal records of people convicted of participating in, rendering or receiving adult sexual services.