South Africa: Alleyways, Drugs, and Alcohol: A Journey from Survival to Hope

From Desperation to Determination

At just 19 years old, life had already dealt Bianca a harsh hand. Growing up in KwaZulu-Natal, she faced the kind of poverty and vulnerability that strips away choices. “I used to clean toilets,” she recalls, her voice steady but heavy with memory. “It was not an easy position to be in. During that time, I experienced the most abuse in my life.”

For Bianca and many others like her, survival often came at a cost. Accommodation was never guaranteed. “I remember a man who used to ‘help’ us out with a place to sleep, but only in exchange for sex,” she says. Those who refused were kicked out, left to fend for themselves on the streets. It was in these moments that Bianca realised a painful truth: in a world where basic needs were weaponised, sex became currency.

“One stormy evening, I was kicked out of the house,” she recounts. Stranded and desperate, she confided in someone who seemed empathetic only to be betrayed. “He took advantage of me and left me naked on the side of the road, robbing me of my clothes and the little money I had.” Security guards eventually found her, shivering and exposed, and helped her to safety. But the scars of that night ran deep.

The Harsh Reality of Sex Work

When the lodge where Bianca and others worked closed down, they moved into an abandoned building. It was far from safe. Dilapidated walls, broken windows, and constant threats. “We had to pay rent just to access that dangerous space,” she explains. With mounting financial pressure and no alternatives, many turned to drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms. “It’s such working conditions and the constant demands to meet cash targets that have seen most of us becoming slaves to drugs and alcohol.”

Sex work, for Bianca, was never about choice. It was about survival. Yet, even in this harsh reality, exploitation loomed large. “I was no longer a person; I was someone’s cash cow,” she says. The cycle of poverty, abuse, and addiction seemed endless.

Finding Strength Through Support

Bianca’s turning point came when she connected with Sisonke National Movement, an organisation advocating for the rights and dignity of sex workers. Through their support, she began to reclaim her life. “Since meeting Sisonke, my life has improved,” she says with a faint smile. “Yes, I still take alcohol, but not the drugs. And I am no longer someone’s cash cow.”

Sisonke provided more than just resources. It offered hope, community, and a voice. For Bianca, this meant learning about her rights, accessing safer spaces, and finding solidarity among others who understood her struggles. It was a step towards empowerment in a world that had long denied her agency.

Breaking the Silence

Bianca’s story is not unique. Across South Africa, countless young women face similar realities. Caught between poverty, gender-based violence, and systemic neglect. Their experiences highlight urgent issues: 

• the criminalisation of sex work,
• lack of safe housing,
• and the absence of social safety nets. 

These are not isolated problems; they are deeply rooted in inequality and discrimination. By sharing her journey, Bianca challenges stereotypes and sparks conversations about dignity, choice, and justice. Her resilience is a testament to the power of support systems and the importance of organisations like Sisonke in transforming lives.

A Call to Action

Bianca’s story reminds us that behind every statistic is a human being with dreams, pain, and potential. It calls for policies that protect rather than punish, for programmes that prioritise health and safety, and for a society that recognises sex workers as individuals deserving of rights and respect. As Bianca puts it: “I am no longer someone’s cash cow.” Her words echo a powerful truth. Change is possible when we choose compassion over judgment, and action over apathy.

By: Bianca