Written submissions had been submitted in Any legislative process following the report would only happen after an extensive consultation process. The SALRC Report suggested that the recommendations should be considered by the relevant departments and if in agreement with the recommendations, they should take the necessary steps to implement them.
On timeframes for legislation, SALRC reported that the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development was undertaking research and legislative work on the subject matter of the report and in the second half of , it would probably be in a position to consult on the legislative matters. The non-legislative proposals were dependent on the relevant departments and whether they agreed with the recommendations.
Timeframes would be developed according to the work of the departments. Almost half of the submissions made on the day were in favour of the criminalisation or partial criminalisation of adult prostitution, while just over half of the submissions favoured decriminalisation of sex work.
Speakers were extremely passionate and articulate. All presenters recognised the social ills associated with adult prostitution but those who advocated decriminalisation believed that decriminalisation would make sex work safer and that sex workers would have easier access to health care and enjoy improved human rights, as well as be in a position to access protection from the relevant labour laws.
Those who were against decriminalisation were adamant that nothing could improve the condition of sex workers. It was degrading to women and society had no right to normalise sex work as if it were acceptable to condemn people to such a way of life. The anti-criminalisation advocates also spoke of the impact of prostitution on children and how human trafficking was intertwined with sex work.
