The Caring Sex Worker

NOSIPHO VIDIMA, 32, turned to sex work to make a living but has found her calling as an activist and SWEAT lobbyist.

- Sisonke Labase

“My background is not bad as people assume it to be. I was a privileged child; I went to the best private schools. My mom and dad separated when I was young, but they co-parented in such a way that I always felt loved. So no, I didn’t become a sex worker because I was desperate. I tried working as a waitress and as a telemarketer, but there was no money in it. I realised that the women on the street were making more cash than I was. I used to earn R3 000. From that, I had to commute to work at Gateway Shopping Mall in Durban and raise my child. The tips didn’t make a difference. So in 2008, I connected with someone who I knew was a sex worker. She said she’d let me try it out and teach me the ropes. She taught me how to get clients, and how to stay safe in those environments. Sex work is not about the type of clothes you wear; safety is far more important in this business. I remember my first night on the streets very clearly. I was 23, hesitant and fearful. I was anxious from not knowing the environment. But to cope, I stayed close to other sex workers. I didn’t leave with a client when no one else was around. Getting arrested was also on my mind, as were the horror stories I’d heard about sex work. Some tales aren’t true. For example, there’s a myth about clients who offer lots of money in exchange for sex, but as soon as you get to the hotel, they turn into a snake. I’m yet to meet that person.