MAKHADO - According to the law, prostitution is illegal, but a large number of young girls are still practising it in the streets of Makhado.

The young prostitutes from Nzhelele, Elim/Hlanganani, Vleifontein, Vuwani and Sinthumule/Kutama and Tshikota say that they do not consider themselves as hookers, as they are simply selling what they have, their bodies. Mirror’s reporter found several groups at the corner of Joubert and President Street and Rissik and President Street during the past week.

They do not just stand everywhere, but at the stop signs, to lure their clients with their short and revealing clothing. The prostitutes claim that since Chinese businessmen have been flocking to town in large numbers, their business has grown to greater heights.

"Should you get a Chinese businessman, you will go home with more than R400. And we do not want to reveal their business names, but they are in Songozwi street," said one of the girls from Tshituni in Nzhelele. They say that they understand that the R160 child grant is likely going to be increased, but they have to generate money to buy food and clothes for their children for the Easter Holiday.

Even though some of the girls claim that they are selling their bodies to get money in order to buy trendy clothes and jewels, Mirror can reveal most of the clothes they wear is fake and cheap. Amongst the young girls are a few who do not sell their bodies to black males, but to Indian, Chinese and white men, as they claim that black clients usually ask for free services.

Others told Mirror that they charge R30 or even R20 to pedestrians, while for motorists the price starts at R50, adding that the charges are different from one race to another. "If a client does not want to use a condom, we charge more," they claim.

During the day, some of the girls are students. They add that they do not spend long hours at home; that they just go home to shower and change clothes, because their ‘real life’ is on the streets of Makhado.

When asked what leads them to sell their bodies, the girls say that their drunk, unemployed and abusive fathers made them prefer life on the streets. Others cited poverty and frustrations as the main problems that led them to prostitution. "It is tough in this business to get a client, more especially now when the schools have closed and with our Zimbabweans rivals charging less," said the prostitutes.