Magosha demands special R600 Grants for Government

Thigh Vendors and Magoshas are struggling to provide for their families because of the lockdown, so magoshas have demanded a special Covid-19 social grant. They said it’s unfair for the government to exclude them in plans to provide relief funds.

We are breadwinners and our kids are now starving,” one magosha told said. A number of magoshas expressed anger that the government gave additional social grant and relief funds without outlining plans for them.

One said the government needed to acknowledge them as workers as they provided a service and were able to make ends meet. She wanted at least a R600 monthly!

“We haven’t had any clients since the lockdown because we don’t have permits and physical contact isn’t allowed,” said the a 33-year-old from Jozi.

“Government should start taking us seriously and allocate grants for us. I make R2 000 in a bad month,”

A magosha from Soweto, who lives with her brother, said she’s running out of food. She’s been a S.e.x worker for over a year and went into the S.e.x trade after her grandma died.

“I dropped out of college and had to look for a job. My friends introduced me to post!tution. I was desperate. Since then I have been able to buy food, clothes and pay for water and lights.”

Most of her clients are in Midrand and Menlyn in Tshwane. She said her services vary from R500 to R3 500, depending on the hours.

“They’re big spenders. I make a lot of money when they keep me for a night. It’s been dry and the government should at least give us R600 so we can feed our families.”

Last month, the government announced that child support grant recipients would receive an extra R300 this month, and R500 from June to October. Other grant recipients will receive an extra R250.In addition, R350 will be paid monthly to jobless individuals who don’t get UIF and any other form of social grants.

Readers said on Facebook:

• Simon Mdladla: “They should be allowed to come to our homes and be given special permits.”
• Andile Shabangu: “Definitely, essential service. They should be getting R3 000 per month.”
• Thabo Fipaza: “Technically speaking, they’re unemployed. So they can get the same grant that’s given to the unemployed.”
• Meanwhile, S.e.x Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce and Sisonke recently announced a solidarity fundraiser for S.e.x worker allies to donate directly during the pandemic.

The fundraiser will provide emergency relief for sex workers not covered by government or other financial support provided to workers by the government due to the criminalisation of s.e.x work.

In Other News – What? Lerato Kganyago is neighbours with the President

This is what is called ‘rubbing shoulders with the Big Bosses’ if she is really telling the truth. Imagine, his motorcade drive past her home, wow! Fans were left in a young frenzy on Tuesday night after media personality Lerato Kganyago claimed: “the president” was her next-door neighbour.

Lerato’s young flex crept up when she was responding to Linda Moeketsi‘s question asking “who was your most interesting neighbour”. See More on this…