South African MPs want prostitution legalised at 2010 world cup
A member of the ruling ANC in South Africa wan ts prostitution to be legalised during the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament hol d ing there.
Addressing the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture in Parliament Tuesday, ANC member George Lekgetho said if legalised, prostitution would help to ensure the success of the tournament.
Other MPs said the issue should be debated publicly.
The MPs were speaking following a presentation by the Arts and Culture Committee on its plans for social cohesion during the 2010 tournament.
Last year, police commissioner Jackie Selebi said if prostitution is legalised it would allow the police to deal with more important security issues.
The Human Sciences Research Council has also warned that if South Africa did not expedite the decriminalisation of the sex industry, it would have a ripple eff ect on human trafficking.
