Cape Town, a unique city with a diverse history, is South Africa’s oldest city. It is the capital of Western Cape and located on Table Bay shore. It has a total area of 2455 km² and a population of more than 3.7 million people.
The city is ideal for walking, with guides sharing stories of the times gone by about the Mother City. Tours will take visitors to culturally important areas and vibrantly coloured houses while knowing more about Cape Town. Top tourist attractions include Table Mountain and National Park, Robben Island, Cape of Good Hope, Two Oceans Aquarium, and more.
There is no red light district in Cape Town, but it is likely to see adult entertainment venues in the stretch of Long Street and Green Point. Long Street is the main street in Cape Town, while Green Point is in the north-west section of the business district.
History of the RLD
Prostitution in South Africa can be traced back to the sex trade in the dockside, from the establishment of Dutch East India Company (refreshment station at the Cape of Good Hope). The women involved in the industry (Cape Town and Durban) also participated in other activities with foreign sailors. The sex workers used their knowledge of the sailors’ culture and language to offer their services in a tight market.
Reports suggest that women became traffickers in idea, culture, language, diseases, and genes. Historians cited dockside prostitution along with larger historical issues such as slavery, apartheid, the Mineral Revolution, the British colonial governance, and more.
How to find the RLD
The loop service is a great and convenient way to access Long Street, which starts at Han Strydom and ends at Orange Street. The Minibus taxi and My CITI buses are the mode of transportation to use when going to Green Point, an area on the north-west portion of the city’s business district.
Stay Safe in the RLD
Tourists are advised to be careful when wandering around the Long Street and surrounding area late at night. It is not advisable to interact with street kids, as some are likely to rob the tourists and steal valuable possessions, though they are unlikely violent.
Sensual and erotic massages are common in Cape Town. Many avail of this type of services not just to relieve aching muscles, but also to find pleasure and fulfill their fantasies. Quality strip clubs also exist in the city and are known for offering pole dancing entertainment.
Adult Cinemas
There is one adult cinema/shop in the area known as Wet Warehouse. This has been in operation since 1994, and has two videos lounges for straight guys and gays, as well as private viewing booths. The venue has couches in viewing rooms and couples can rent a room and request a film they want to watch together. The venue values privacy, cleanliness, and comfort, making them a top choice for private entertainment.
Street Prostitution
It is possible to find several sex workers in Voortrekker Road, which starts from Salt River through Belville. In this area, prostitutes wait for potential clients to pass by. Women usually stand on the corners, wearing high heels and miniskirts. There are also those who wear conservative outfits, but this makes it difficult for potentials customers to identify them.
There are streets workers along the Maccasar Bolden Powell, offering services at negotiable prices. There are also prostitutes in Parrow in the Voortrekker Road between Tieberg/Da La Rey Streets and Vanguard Drive. Some sex workers offer services in Koeberg Road between Ysterplaat and Brooklyn.
Swinger Clubs
There are quite a few swingers club in the country, but there is only one listed for Cape Town. Some clubs are in other parts of the country like Gauteng and Durban.
While prostitution is common in South Africa, prostitution itself is illegal since the Sexual Offences Act (SOA) in 1957. This prohibits prostitution, procuring, keeping, a brothel, and other activities associated with the profession. An amendment in 2007 added purchase of sexual services as an offence, as well as sex with those that are underage and mentally incompetent.
Keeping a brothel is illegal, with penalties like fines and jail time of up to three years. Procuring services from such establishments is also prohibited and offenders will have to face a penalty of imprisonment of up to seven years. It is also a crime to detain someone against her own will in any establishment for giving adult services. The same is also true for helping someone to communicate with another person for having sex as a reward.
The constitution in South Africa prohibits discrimination based on sexual or gender orientation. The National Task Team (NTT), established in 2011, tackles hate crime issues against the members of the LGBT community. Partners of the same gender also have adoption rights, just like married couples. Same-sex relationship was also recognized in 2005 and same-sex marriage was legalized in the country in 2006.
Members of the third sex are also allowed to serve in the military. There is also an act that permits people to alter or change their sex status in the registry. This is because of the Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status Act, which also allows them to receive identity documents that indicate their new gender.
Those whose love to party and dance the night away can visit groovy music venues and fun pubs and bars. Most offer a selection of cocktail and sumptuous snacks and are great places to meet and mingle with locals and tourists. The nightlife precincts in the city include Victoria Road in Camps Bay (tables on elevated platforms), Long Street (an area attracting a younger crowd), Green Point, and Upper Kloof Street.
Cape Town is a gay-tolerant city, earning its title as the gay capital of Africa. The constitution prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. South Africa also legalized same-sex marriage in 2006, making it the first in the continent. Because of this, members of the LGBT are welcomed in the country, with prominent leaders promoting LGBT rights. In fact, the 33rd Annual IGLTA Global Convention was held in the city.
The suburb of Green Point is one of the best places to enjoy LGBT nightlife. There are several gay dance clubs in the city where members can party and meet new friends. There is the De Waterkant, a sub-district in Green Point, an unusual precinct that welcomes everyone.
General Attitude Towards Gays
The South African constitution protects members of the third sex against discrimination according to gender preferences. Despite the progressive law, there are still those who believe that homosexuality is morally wrong. Others, meanwhile, think that LGBT members should have the same rights as everybody else.
While the constitution has made differences to the lives of LGBT members, homophobia is still common. The laws may have changed, but the attitudes of people don’t come along quickly. This is also because the country is a socially conservative nation, with high consideration to religion. People’s conservative outlook on life means taking a while for the attitudes to change.
Reports suggest that in some rural areas, several LGBT members would choose to hide their sexual orientation or just keep quiet about it. Some say that SA has come a long way 10 years ago, but it is a slow transition. It is always easier to express homosexuality in big cities like Cape Town, where LGBT members are more welcomed.
Most of the gay venues in the city are located in De Waterkant, a district in the affluent suburb of Green Point. Apart from bars and clubs in the area, there are also gay-friendly hotels nearby. It is a well-known gaybourhood in the city where gays and lesbians party and hangout.
Gay Prostitution in Cape Town
Many gays offering adult services usually advertise through the internet. Reports suggest, however, that Graaff’s Pool or The Wall is a popular community for homosexuals for at least 15 years. It is noted that there was an element of gay sex workers hanging around the area, but reports suggest that there are more people sun tanning in the venue.
Transsexual Prostitutes
It is always easier to find transsexual prostitutes offering adult services on the internet though reports say there are transvestite workers in Long Street, the main entertainment venue in the Central Cape Town, which transforms into a vibrant place, especially late at night.
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