Pastors, claiming to represent more than 100 000 Christians, want the "filthy" sex industry banished to the Karoo.
But an organisation representing sex workers has called for sex shops, massage parlours and the like to be treated like "any other commercial business".
This was just one of the emotive exchanges on Monday at a public hearing into an adult entertainment policy for Cape Town, which could see special areas or red-light districts being allocated for the sex industry.
The unicity, an amalgamation of seven previous administrations, is drafting a first citywide land-use management policy which includes proposals around zoning land for the sex industry's sex shops, strip clubs, escort agencies, massage parlours, adult film theatres, steam baths and (technically illegal) brothels.
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| 'Run shuttles to the Karoo for those who require it' |
Church presentations included references to the evil of "glory holes" (a hole used for homosexual sex in steam rooms), peep booths, coprophilia (a fetish involving human excrement) and sex with many anonymous partners.
Making a guest appearance was American rock weirdo Marilyn Manson, whose picture Cape Town resident Angela Manning handed in as part of a presentation on the dangers of pornography and prostitution.
A glaring omission was any presentation by sex workers or owners of sex shops or massage parlours.
Errol Naidoo, of His People Church, ended his presentation about the "evils of pornography and sex shops" by saying: "If I had my way, (they would be accommodated) nowhere in Cape Town. Run shuttles to the Karoo for those who require it. It harms men. Men become addicted to rape."
Naidoo said His People's views on the "selling of filth and smut" were shared by 135 Western Cape churches that formed part of the Transformation Movement and represented 120 000 Christians.
Earlier, the unicity's multiparty task team, headed by Jeremiah Thuynsma, was accused by the Atlantic Christian Assembly Church of "legalising and legitimising" the sex industry by holding public hearings.
The Sex Worker Education Advocacy Task Force submitted through advocacy and lobbying co-ordinator Althea MacQuene that, although still "technically illegal", the adult sex-work industry was part of the adult entertainment industry.
"Our submission argues that the adult entertainment industry should be granted primary-use rights in commercial and business zones. Adult entertainment businesses in industrial areas should only be permitted with the consent of the council. This should be based on protecting the interests of the workers."
MacQuene said a report compiled by the unicity recognised that sex work fell under adult entertainment in describing the industry as a whole, but separated legal from illegal activities when presenting land-use options.
"We do not support the separation. In particular, we are strongly opposed to a separate zone for the sex-work industry," she said.
Christine McCafferty, of Christian Liberty Books, said they would prefer that all zones required special consent from the council, with the consent being based on public approval.
"However, given the potential legal problems with this, we propose that a light industrial zone be identified as a zone granting primary right to sexually oriented businesses."
Retraction published on July 16, 2003:
On May 28 and 29, the Cape Times published reports on representations made to the City Portfolio Committees on the adult entertainment land use policy.
Errol Naidoo, of His People Church, who made a presentation, complained to the Press Ombudsman that he was misquoted and harmed by the reports. After lengthy debate with the Ombudsman, he issued an order against the Cape Times with which we comply as follows:
- The Cape Times retracts the statement that pastors claiming to represent more than 100 000 Christians asked for the "filthy" sex industry to be banished to the Karoo. The Cape Times also wants to clarify that the statement was based on a tongue-in-cheek comment made by Naidoo, who was referring to pornography and sex shops and not to prostitutes.
- The articles attributed the words "evils of pornography and sex shops" and "selling filth and smut" to Naidoo. These words were the reporter's summary of Naidoo's presentation and not words actually used by him in the quoted form.
- The Cape Times retracts and apologises for the innuendo in the first paragraph of the May 29 article that Naidoo lacks understanding of and compassion for prostitutes or that there is doubt as to his standing as a pastor.
- This article was originally published on page 5 of Cape Times on May 28, 2003
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