Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce

About SWEAT

The Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) was founded in November 1994 by Shane Petzer (a male sex worker) and Ilse Pauw (clinical psychologist) and has 30 years of history as South Africa's primary sex worker rights organisation. SWEAT advocates for the decriminalisation of sex work and delivers a comprehensive range of services to sex workers across six provinces — Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, North West, and Limpopo.

Their head office is in Observatory, Cape Town, with branches in East London, Johannesburg (Marshalltown), Durban, Mafikeng, and Polokwane. SWEAT has facilitated the birth of the African Sex Worker Alliance (ASWA), the Sisonke national movement of sex workers, and in 2015 co-founded the Asijiki Coalition for the Decriminalisation of Sex Work in South Africa.

Why SWEAT Belongs in a GBV Directory

Sex workers experience disproportionately high rates of rape, assault, robbery, and violence — perpetrated by clients, police, and community members alike. The criminalisation of sex work makes survivors less likely to report violence to police or seek medical care for fear of arrest or further harm. SWEAT exists to address this structural failure by providing an affirming, non-judgmental environment where sex workers can access help. For GBV directory purposes, SWEAT is a critical specialised resource for: - Survivors of rape or assault who are sex workers - Sex workers seeking legal protection or justice - Survivors who need PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) or sexual health services without discrimination

Services

24-Hour Helpline — 0800 606060 (toll-free) — available around the clock for sex workers in crisis, including survivors of rape and violence.

WhatsApp / Please Call Me — 071 357 7632 — accessible contact for those who cannot call.

Community Advice Office (Legal) — 081 730 8849 — free legal advice and support for sex workers, including on matters of violence, protection orders, police abuse, and access to justice.

Outreach Programme — mobile health, legal, and social services delivered to sex workers in their working environments across the six provinces where SWEAT operates. Outreach workers distribute condoms, connect sex workers to health services, and provide information on rights and available support.

Mothers For The Future — a programme specifically supporting pregnant sex workers and sex workers who are parents, recognising the compounded vulnerabilities of this group.

Advocacy — SWEAT works with lawmakers, the criminal justice system, and civil society to advance laws and policies that protect sex workers' rights and hold perpetrators accountable.

National Offices

Head Office (Cape Town): 217 Lower Main Road, Observatory | Eastern Cape (East London): 13 Webb Street, Southernwood | Gauteng (Johannesburg): 21 Kruis Street, Marshalltown | KwaZulu-Natal (Durban): 20 Diakonia Centre | North West (Mafikeng): 17 Connaught Street | Limpopo (Polokwane): 128 Marshall Street.