Legalise sex work, says union

THE National Union of Mineworkers (Num) is going to push for prostitution to be legalised.

To justify the union's position on its call for decriminalising prostitution, Num general secretary Frans Baleni quoted the ANC's Freedom Charter, which he said protected the right of ladies of the night to trade.

"The charter says everybody shall have the right to trade in any profession. We think the profession in which people are trading should also be protected, but certain rules must be put in place."

He slated men who during the day pretended they were not interested in the services offered by prostitutes.

"There are those who during the day claim morality and at night they buy these services, some of them even go abroad to acquire these services."

Num will debate prostitutes and other issues including e-tolling and labour broking when the union holds its 14th national congress in Kempton Park today.

The union will also discuss the nationalisation of mines, but Baleni cautioned against popular sentiments that the state should take ownership.

"We have a clear position on nationalisation: Nothing about us without us. As Num we are directly affected. We are going to determine the future of the mining industry. Nobody else can take a decision on our behalf, especially those who have never been underground.

"State ownership is not necessarily progressive. We have experience (with) Eskom, and at the post office many workers were retrenched. Because these state entities are operating as commercial vehicles. There is no difference."

Baleni also said: "The judiciary must be transformed to address the questions of class, gender and race."

He denied that union leaders were taking sides on the unfolding succession.

"We encourage our members through the ANC to assess leadership (according to) performance and the ability to deal with current challenges."