HIV+ Sex Workers welcome England fans to South Africa

June 14th, 2010

The South African World Cup is upon us but don’t blow your vuvuzela just yet. For England fans at the tournament - Rob Green’s goalkeeping skills are nothing to worry about. Of more concern should be the deadly combination of alcohol and the HIV-positive sex workers who had the ‘the mother of all welcoming parties.’

On Saturday 50,000 football supporters descended on the Royal Bafokeng Stadium and the fanpark in nearby Rustenburg for England versus USA World Cup opener. Mpho, 34, a local sex worker from the Freedom Park Squatter Camp, a sprawling shantytown said “we have been waiting for the English and Americans to come to town and now that they are finally here, we are going to offer them a treat they will never forget.”

England fans need to be aware that South Africa has the highest number of people infected with HIV in the world — 5.7 million sufferers. It therefore goes without saying that as many as half of South Africa's sex workers are HIV-positive.

Georgina Boswell, a community nurse and midwife from west London, is seen as a Mother Teresa figure in these parts for the life-saving frontline work she has been carrying out for two
decades.
Georgina message is quite simple “our HIV problem is massive. Don't get involved with these sex workers! Don't even go there! And if you do, make sure you've prepared your will.”