Prostitution

Today I had the privilege of spending some time with my daughter.  After taking care of business we went home and travelled on Voortrekker Road from Bellville to Goodwood.   We spent some time chatting about the change in the environment and the general appearance of the area.  Some of the buildings we drove by were in a general state of neglect.  This certainly would not go well for the economics of the areas and obviously the value of residential properties would also be affected.

Well that wasnt all we observed.  At every second corner, on either side of the road, in broad daylight were prostitutes.  On some corners guys were also hanging out.  The girls looked terrible, unattractive and generally looked as bad as some of the buildings they hung out at. We just felt that it was a sign of the times and that things would get worse.  This evening on our way to class a young woman was standing on our street corner.  I told my husband that these people are becoming bolder and bolder.  I was just saying that the police must get involved and do something, when I heard someone speak on a "loud-hailer" asking the woman to leave the corner and go home - it was the police.

I remember a few years ago, I tried to start a forum for business people in the Goodwood area.  The primary reason was to see whether the businesses were prepared to get involved in the general clean-up and management of our streets.  Unfortunately, after walking month after month for a period of almost two years, I had to give up the idea as generally it did not appear that local business was prepared to invest this venture.  I guess that some ideas did pay off....  Prostitutes used to frequent a particular business district during the night and a suggestion was made that the police use fog lights to light up the streets they were patrolling.  Now the police do have fog log lights and use them as they drive through the neighbourhood during the night.

It may be thought that prostitution is a way of living and providing income to families however along with prostitution comes, trafficking in drugs as well as humans, abuse, unfair labour practises amongst others.  Some may even feel that the police are better off chasing after robbers, murderers, fraudsters.  But what if your child was a victim of human trafficking, what if you were innocently coerced to meet someone and found out that you are now indebted to them for the rest of your life because they own you, would that perhaps change your mind?

Perhaps businesses should take an interest in what happens outside the shopfront.  Just imagine a street where all the businesses owners would sweep in front of their shopfront every morning.  As business generally open at the same time, they will get to know the business owner next door.  You get to communicate about things that are working and things that are not.  You get to attract a better customer as you become more and more visible.  You create an atmosphere of security just by being present.  Your business could have a bigger turnover and you could employ the very people you want off the streets.

Far too often in these times we tend to wish something ugly and unpleasant away.  It may take the simplest of steps to make a difference and it could start with sweeping in front of your door first.