EFF leader Julius Malema has called on the government to decriminalise prostitution.
Speaking to party supporters at a Women's Day rally in Mpumalanga, Malema said sex workers deserved access to protection by law enforcement agencies, including being able to open cases against rapists or other types of abusers without disrespect from police.
The government must legalise prostitution. Prostitution is the oldest profession in the world. You may be a Christian whether you like it or not, prostitution is a job and there are people who work in it. Respect those people, they too must have protection and workers' rights, he said.
There has been an ongoing debate about legalising prostitution to enhance health and safety for sex workers and protect their rights. In 2022, the cabinet approved the publication of the Criminal Law Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Bill regarding the decriminalisation of sex work for public comment. The passage of the bill has since stalled.
Malema said all women should be protected from being victims of abuse.