Like in many other countries, there has been an ongoing debate in South Africa for
more than 30 years on legal approaches to prostitution. This thesis investigates the cost
of prostitution for individuals and highlights the policy implications of these costs in a
“deviant” African case with a relatively high GDP. The primary materials are seven
qualitative interviews with survivors of prostitution and/or human trafficking in South
Africa—prior research, news reporting, non-governmental organizations, and
international legal authorities provide secondary materials. The main analytical
techniques consist of causal narratives and process tracing. It is demonstrated that
decriminalizing prostitution most likely increases costs for individuals and society,
supporting radical feminists’ argument against decriminalization and for the
Equality/Nordic Model.
According to previous research, decriminalization leads to an increased demand for
prostitution, an increased number of those victimized, and more harmful buyers. These
consequences, in turn, lead to more costs for individuals and society. According to the
results of this thesis, for individuals in South Africa, prostitution costs are primarily
associated with the loss of income and increased healthcare expenses. For society, there
is an increased need for easily accessible healthcare due to more severe trauma and
more individuals needing help to survive.
From a comparative-politics perspective, South Africa and other countries, especially
with limited resources, should not decriminalize prostitution but take measures to
decrease demand and, in turn, lower costs associated with prostitution and invest the
money where it is needed—in functioning safe houses and exit programs. Governments
should focus on helping current survivors instead of contributing to creating new
survivors and victims who never reach survival.