SWEAT Secures National Moratorium on Sex Worker Prosecutions: A Landmark Victory Ahead of Amicus Hearings

The Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) celebrates a historic step forward for sex workers in South Africa. The National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) has issued a moratorium on the prosecution of sex workers until the conclusion of the ongoing strategic litigation case which challenges the criminalisation of sex work.

This decision — effective in all provinces nationwide — is a massive achievement for SWEAT and the sex worker rights movement. It follows our urgent call earlier this year, after we observed a troubling spike in arrests immediately following the launch of the case in Cape Town. On the eve of the amicus hearings scheduled for 1–2 September 2025, the moratorium affirms the seriousness of the case and marks an important step toward recognising sex workers’ rights, dignity, and safety.

However, despite this progress, harassment has not ended. Earlier this month, sex workers were arrested in Cape Town — after the moratorium was already in place. We are very grateful to the prosecutor who withdrew the charges after speaking to SWEAT.

The human cost of such harassment is devastating. One of the women arrested on this occasion had very serious family responsibilities to attend to and was prevented from caring for her child because she was arrested and detained. This cruelty demonstrates why full decriminalisation of sex work is the only solution: sex workers deserve to live and work without fear, stigma, or interference in their lives.

What is clearly illustrated is that arrests will continue even though there is a moratorium on prosecutions. We are therefore calling on the Minister of Police to also agree to a moratorium on the arrests of sex workers pending the outcome of our litigation.

We remind sex workers that the moratorium is national, and SWEAT is here to provide support. If you need legal assistance, please call our 24-hour helpline at 0800 606060 or send a WhatsApp to 071 357 7632.

This moratorium is a milestone, but the struggle for decriminalisation continues. Litigation is expensive and we urgently need resources to cover legal costs, provide direct support to sex workers who face arrest and harassment, and sustain the long fight for decriminalisation. Every contribution is a refusal to let our lives be criminalised, erased, or exploited.

Support our campaign here:
👉 https://www.givengain.com/and campaign/sweat-needs-your-solidarity-decrim-now-31249

This is a victory worth celebrating — and a reminder that our fight is far from over. Decrim Now. Fund the Fight.

For more information, contact  Megan Lessing at 0813067812 or email meganl@sweat.org.za