--- title: "Sex work laws challenged in court, spotlight on media integrity and rethinking African economies" description: "This week in civil society, Sweat heads to court to challenge laws that criminalise sex work, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation will host its African Peace and Security Dialogue and the Institute of Economic Justice’s Rethinking Economies for Africa will take place." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "CIVIL SOCIETY WATCH — SEPTEMBER 1-5" author: "Lerato Mutsila" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/lerato-mutsila/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-01-civill-society-sex-work-laws-challenged-media-integrity-rethinking-african-economies/" published: "2025-09-01T14:12:43" updated: "2025-09-01T18:34:51" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 452 --- # Sex work laws challenged in court, spotlight on media integrity and rethinking African economies > This week in civil society, Sweat heads to court to challenge laws that criminalise sex work, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation will host its African Peace and Security Dialogue and the Institute of Economic Justice’s Rethinking Economies for Africa will take place. By Lerato Mutsila · Published 1 September 2025, 16:12 SAST · Updated 1 September 2025, 20:34 SAST ## Key points - This week in South Africa, the Western Cape High Court will hear a case that could finally liberate sex workers from the shackles of outdated laws, while various summits and festivals cover media integrity, land and economic reform. - The Western Cape High Court will hear a pivotal case on 1 September aimed at decriminalising sex work, filed by the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat). - Sweat argues that current laws infringe on constitutional rights, with sex workers facing ongoing violence and stigma amid stalled legislative reforms. - Concurrently, the M20 Summit will address media integrity and its role in governance and human rights during the G20 Summit on 1-2 September. - On 5 September, the Rethinking Economics for Africa Festival will engage students and activists at the University of Johannesburg, focusing on gender and economic transformation. ## Content ![civil society sex work](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Poster-1.jpeg)On **Monday, 1 September,**the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat) will head to the Western Cape High Court where a case to decriminalise sex work will be heard. [Sweat filed a case in May 2024](https://sweat.org.za/2025/08/07/decrimincourt-what-you-need-to-know/) to challenge the laws that criminalise adult sex work, arguing that they violate constitutional rights including equality, dignity, safety, privacy and health. During the two-day proceedings, *amici curiae* (friends of the court) will make submissions either for or against the decriminalisation of sex work. “In 2022, the government promised to change the laws that criminalise sex work by introducing a Decriminalisation Bill. But progress has been slow. The Bill hasn’t moved forward, and in the meantime sex workers continue to face arrests, fines, violence and stigma – just for doing their work,” Sweat said. **Venue:**Western Cape High Court, Keerom Street, Cape Town CBD. ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Poster-2.jpeg) Also kicking off on **Monday**, and continuing on **Tuesday, 2 September,**Sanef, Media Monitoring Africa and partners will host the two-day M20 Summit on media and information integrity, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. “The M20 Summit will focus on the role of media and journalism to foster information integrity as a cornerstone for human rights, effective governance, international cooperation and public trust needed for social and economic development,” the organisations said. ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Poster-3.jpeg) On **Wednesday, 3 September,**the Thabo Mbeki Foundation will host the second edition of the African Peace and Security Dialogue. The three-day annual dialogue welcomes international and local delegates, including International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, former Mauritian president Prithvirajsing Roopun and Bantu Holomisa. **Venue:** Mount Grace Hotel and Spa, Magaliesberg, Gauteng. ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Poster-4.jpeg) On **Friday, 5 September,**at**11am,**Ndifuna Ukwazi will host a panel on land at the Open Book Festival in Cape Town. Ndifuna Ukwazi’s popular education officer and coordinator, Aphiwe Ngalo, will chair a discussion about “Building on the past on land, forced removals and the settler colonial story”. The speakers include Foluso Agbaje, Zara Julius and Patric Tariq Mellet. Book tickets [here](https://openbookfestival.co.za/festival-programme/). ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Poster-5.jpeg) Also on **Friday**, the Institute of Economic Justice and other civil society organisations will host the seventh annual Rethinking Economics for Africa Festival. This festival, hosted on the University of Johannesburg’s Auckland Park Kingsway campus for the first time, offers students, activists and the public a chance to engage with academics and policymakers on real issues affecting the economy, society and the teaching of economics. There will be a special focus on gender and feminist approaches to understanding and transforming the economy, economic policy and how economics is taught, and there will also be art exhibitions, film screenings, performances, interactive installations and stalls by partner organisations. **Venue:** University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Kingsway campus. Register for this in-person event [here](https://www.quicket.co.za/events/319427-rethinking-economics-for-africa-festival-2025/).