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.