‘Jobless’ youth venture into online sex work

Sex without condom also on offer
Prices sourced from various sex workers: Naked video call: N$50 Nudes: N$50 for 20 videos Sex without a condom: N$150 One round: N$250 Threesome: N$600 One-night stand: N$600 Weekend: N$1 500
Mariud Ngula,Rita Kakelo
Amid widespread unemployment, many young Namibian women have turned to selling sexual services on various social media platforms. Some as young as 18 have even created posters to publicly advertise their services.

Namibian Sun recently discovered numerous posters in which sex workers detail their rates, including the cost for ‘nudes’, ‘one round’, a ‘threesome’, a ‘one-night stand’ and a weekend, as well as a price for a ‘round without a condom’.

The latter offer, of unprotected sex, is deemed particularly dangerous.

Speaking on Network TV’s The Evening Review show recently, health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe revealed that HIV/AIDS remains a challenge in Namibia - with nearly 5 000 new infections recorded annually.

The real number of infections could be much higher, as not all infected people have been tested for the incurable sexually-transmitted virus.

This alarming trend of online sex work highlights the dire economic circumstances forcing these individuals into such risky and vulnerable positions, a fact confirmed by some in the trade. When this publication tracked down the woman behind one of the posters, it came across an 18-year-old – a high school dropout originally from Outapi who sells her services from a Windhoek guesthouse alongside her 20-year-old friend.

In it for school fees

Talking to Namibian Sun under the condition of anonymity, Fixxy (not her real name) revealed that she left her home in Outapi in an attempt to escape a toxic relationship with her family, which she claims nearly drove her to the brink.

She narrated that since last November, she has resorted to openly advertising on social media that she provides sexual services and creates videos of herself engaging in sexual intercourse for an additional fee to make ends meet.

“I was forced into this business because of personal and financial constraints. Life has not been kind to me. I had a rough upbringing. My parents and I have a rocky relationship, which forced me to leave home for Windhoek when I was only 11 years old. I found a place to stay in Ombili, where I paid N$150 for a room with no water and electricity. Now we live in a guest house," she recounted.

“I am doing all this to make money and to be able to afford to complete high school next year,” she said.

Could not land a job

A 24-year-old woman from the Goreangab area in Katutura revealed that she failed school and was forced into sex work because she could not land any other job to support herself. “If I had a job, I would not have done this. If I get one, I will quit,” she said. “I have a few friends with whom I host clients with. We charge N$250 per round.”

Meanwhile, a pimp based in Tsumeb said he provides sex workers, who offer an array of services. A pimp is a person who arranges clients for sex workers, taking a percentage of their earnings in return. “Those ladies range from N$200 per night,” he said.

Ministry programmes

Namibian Sun reached out to the gender equality ministry on whether it has a division that accommodates individuals who are battling sex addiction or exploitation and are looking to change their lives in that regard.

In response, spokesperson Lukas Haufiku said the ministry does not have a specific programme yet, but it offers psycho-social support to help affected individuals cope with social issues they might be going through. He added that the ministry also acts as a referral to relevant stakeholders, including social workers, the health ministry and the police.

He highlighted the ministry’s women empowerment programmes that help uplift women in communities nationwide. “One of our programmes - income-generating activities - targets women in communities and helps them generate income through small money-making initiatives to empower themselves,” Haufiku said.

Law silent

On whether sex work is legal or not in Namibia, justice ministry executive director Gladice Pickering said: “There is nothing in the constitution [about the matter].

"You will know that recently there was a court case on sodomy and a reference was made to the Immoral Practices Act, which is a very old legislation but, unfortunately, still applies”.

Comments

Namibian Sun 2024-11-23

No comments have been left on this article

Please login to leave a comment

Katima Mulilo: 23° | 38° Rundu: 24° | 35° Eenhana: 23° | 35° Oshakati: 25° | 34° Ruacana: 24° | 35° Tsumeb: 22° | 33° Otjiwarongo: 20° | 32° Omaruru: 22° | 36° Windhoek: 21° | 33° Gobabis: 23° | 34° Henties Bay: 15° | 19° Swakopmund: 15° | 16° Walvis Bay: 14° | 23° Rehoboth: 21° | 34° Mariental: 21° | 36° Keetmanshoop: 18° | 36° Aranos: 22° | 36° Lüderitz: 15° | 26° Ariamsvlei: 18° | 36° Oranjemund: 14° | 22° Luanda: 24° | 25° Gaborone: 22° | 36° Lubumbashi: 17° | 34° Mbabane: 18° | 32° Maseru: 15° | 32° Antananarivo: 17° | 29° Lilongwe: 22° | 35° Maputo: 22° | 36° Windhoek: 21° | 33° Cape Town: 16° | 23° Durban: 20° | 26° Johannesburg: 18° | 33° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 22° | 36° Harare: 20° | 31° #REF! #REF!