We are human beings: The social support to commercial sex workers during COVID-19 in the criminalised setting at uMhlathuze Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The vulnerability of sex workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their real-life experiences, are discussed in this paper. The study uses the humanitarianism theory as a lens to understand why sex workers are excluded from social safety programmes, and why they should receive government and non-governmental organisation (NGO) aid. To comprehend the lived experiences of sex workers, in their own words, the researchers adopted a qualitative research approach. A total of 11 commercial sex workers, all of whom were female and operated in uMhlathuze’s towns areas, were interviewed. The study found that the pandemic took away the means of generating income to secure the livelihoods of commercial sex workers. Social support from the government and NGOs was available, but sex workers did not have access to it because their activity fell outside the legal beneficiary framework, which is contrary to humanitarian principles, in which every individual deserves assistance during difficult times. The criminalisation of commercial sex work has worsened poverty and the socioeconomic desperation during the pandemic. The study recommends that commercial sex be decriminalised and that safety programmes be implemented to restore the dignity of sex workers and secure their livelihoods.