'We're not selling sex for fun'

The beauty of nature is not the only attraction that draws throngs of tourists to the picturesque KwaZulu-Natal town of Hluhluwe. Prostitution is big business here.

For as little as R20, young girls sell their bodies to tourists and sex-starved truck drivers.

In some instances, the tourists and truck drivers only have to buy a couple of beers to get to sleep with the young girls - known as amalulwane (bats) or amaphela (cockroaches) - because they only come out at night.

Twenty-year-old prostitute Ma-Vegie, who is involved in recruiting young girls and is one of the ringleaders, says boredom drove her into prostitution.

"I was the only girl in a family of eight. I became lonely and decided to leave home and rent a room in town. I failed Grade 11 and life became boring for me," she said.

Ma-Vegie has been selling her body since 1999. She is not sure if she has contracted HIV but insists she will not go for testing.

"People must not judge us. They must not think we are doing this for fun," she said.

Local teachers, parents and non-government organisations are appalled and have called for intervention .

"Though we acknowledge that there's a big challenge of unemployment, this is not the way these young girls should live.

"Most leave their comfortable homes, where they get everything they ask for, and choose to sell their bodies because it's an easy way to make money,"said a parent.

She said girls chose to come to Phumlani township to look for work.

The low-cost housing township was established in 1998 so that people from surrounding areas, who came to Hluhluwe to look for work, would have a place to live.

The mother said most of those living in the township were unemployed

"Only 30% are employed. Some of these girls are so young that they ought to be in the care of their parents.

"This affects other young schoolchildren, who drop out of school as a result," the parent said.

She said men who drove luxury cars came to the township looking for young girls for sex.

"We have even started adult basic education and training to encourage the girls to study but it's not working.

"These children don't want to attend classes because they are so deeply involved in prostitution," she said.

Sibongile Ngubane, who runs Lethuthando Home-Based and Orphan Care Centre, said most of the girls who sold their bodies came from well-off families.

"There is a girl whose parents are working but she is doing it [prostitution].

"She left school in Grade 11 after falling pregnant and started to teach and encourage other children - who also fell pregnant - how to abort their unborn babies.

"We tried to help her, with her parents, turn her life around but it failed. These children need help. They need counselling," Ngubane said.

Thandiwe Mazibuko, of Star For Life, a non-government organisation, said she had approached several schools with an offer to teach pupils about social ills.

The programme is aimed at inspiring pupils to strengthen their self-esteem and live an HIV-free life.

"We motivate them and promote entrepreneurship, and encourage them to use their talent to make money," said Mazibuko.

Police spokesman Colonel Vincent Mdunge said that the problem had not been brought to police's attention but they would investigate it.

"If people are aware of something like this, they must report it to the police," Mdunge said.