Share

Magoshas demand a special Covid-19 social grant!

accreditation

THEY are struggling to provide for their families because of the lockdown, so magoshas have demanded a special Covid-19 social grant.

They said it’s unfair for government to exclude them in plans to provide relief funds.

“We’re breadwinners and our kids are now starving,” one magosha told Daily Sun.

A number of magoshas expressed anger that government gave additional social grant and relief funds without outlining plans for them.

One said government needed to acknowledge them as workers as they provided a service and were able to make ends meet.

She wanted at least a R600 monthly!

“We haven’t had any clients since the lockdown because we don’t have permits and physical contact isn’t allowed,” said the a 33-year-old from Jozi.

“Government should start taking us seriously and allocate grants for us. I make R2 000 in a bad month,”

A magosha (22) from Soweto, who lives with her brother, said she’s running out of food. She’s been a sex worker for over a year and went into the sex trade after her grandma died.

“I dropped out of college and had to look for a job. My friends introduced me to prostitution. I was desperate. Since then I’ve been able to buy food, clothes and pay for water and lights.”

Most of her clients are in Midrand and Menlyn in Tshwane. She said her services vary from R500 to R3 500, depending on the hours.

“They’re big spenders. I make a lot of money when they keep me for a night. It’s been dry and government should at least give us R600 so we can feed our families.”

Last month, government announced that child support grant recipients would receive an extra R300 this month, and R500 from June to October. Other grant recipients will receive an extra R250.In addition, R350 will be paid monthly to jobless individuals who don’t get UIF and any other form of social grants.

SunReaders said on Facebook:

  • Simon Mdladla: “They should be allowed to come to our homes and be given special permits.”
  • Andile Shabangu: “Definitely, essential service. They should be getting R3 000 per month.”
  • Thabo Fipaza: “Technically speaking, they’re unemployed. So they can get the same grant that’s given to the unemployed.”
  • Meanwhile, Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce and Sisonke recently announced a solidarity fundraiser for sex worker allies to donate directly during the pandemic.

The fundraiser will provide emergency relief for sex workers not covered by government or other financial support provided to workers by government due to the criminalisation of sex work.

Get the best in Soccer, News and Lifestyle content with SNL24 PLUS
For 14 free days, you can have access to the best from Soccer Laduma, KickOff, Daily Sun, TrueLove and Drum. Thereafter you will be billed R29 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed.
Subscribe to SNL24 PLUS
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
What do you value most personally?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Earning tons of money
22% - 4 votes
Career Progression
6% - 1 votes
Work-Life balance
72% - 13 votes
Vote
Let us know what you think

Contact the People’s Paper with feedback on stories and how we could make dailysun.co.za even better!

Learn more
Do you have a story for the People’s Paper?

Click below to contact our news desk and share your story with SunLand!

Let's do it!