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Fact Check: Were nearly half the 101 sex workers who died in South Africa between 2018-2019 murdered? The data is misleading

Published on

Researched by Isabella Liss


Claims

  • Seleka states, “nearly half of the 101 sex workers who died in SA in 2018 and 2019 were murdered."
  • “From 2014 to 2017, Sweat received reports that 118 sex workers had died. More than half of these deaths (55%) were as a result of murder”.
  • “The research team could ascertain that almost half (48.5%) of the deaths were due to non-natural causes.”
  • “Sweat's report found that almost 45% of known causes of deaths were attributed to murder.”
  • "The methods included poisoning, multiple gunshot wounds, stabbing, strangulation and being pushed out of a moving car.”
  • Seleka also attributes deaths to HIV/Aids, TB, and discrimination within healthcare facilities.

Source: Ntwaagae Seleka, Writer for News24 (4 March 2020)


Key Studies

Both SWEAT’s #SAYHERNAME Report 2014-2017 and FEMALE AND TRANSWOMXN SEX WORKER DEATHS IN SOUTH AFRICA 2018-2019 cite the same statistics. The second report details how these statistics were continually collected;

“For the period 2014 to 2017 – the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) received reports of 118 female sex workers who had died in that period. More than half of these deaths (65/118 or 55%) were as a result of murder. This report continues the important work of the Campaign, gathering information about sex worker deaths during 2018 and 2019. It analyses the reports of 101 deaths of female and transwomxn sex workers during this time and again found that nearly half (45%) were probably attributable to murder.”

Therefore, the data can be broken up as follows:

  • Between 2014-2017, 118 female sex workers died. More than half of these deaths (55%) were as a result of murder.
  • Between 2018-2019, 101 female and transwomxn sex workers died. Just under half (45%) were murdered.


Sample Sizes and Demographic

It must be noted that these are only deaths reported to SWEAT. Total sex worker death rate is likely much higher. Sample size in both studies may be insufficient.

The 2014-2017 report includes only sex workers who identified as female, while the 2018-2019 report also includes those who identify as “transwomxn”. It is unclear why the distinction has been drawn between sex workers born female, and transgender women.


Cause of Death

The 2014-2017 report describes all deaths as “violent”. Other causes of death (non-murder) include suicide, peer-related, accidents, natural causes, and drug-related. It is unclear why “unknown” is considered be a quote “violent” death. Of the 55% murdered, methods included bodily mutilation, acid burn, stabbing, and decapitation.

The 2018-2019 report attributes other causes of death (non-murder) to suicide, drug overdoses, HIV/TB, and unknown. Of the 45% murdered, methods included poisoning, stabbing, gunshot wounds, strangulation, and being forced out of a moving vehicle. Seleka has not properly attributed quotes used in the News24 piece. “SWEAT said” does not reveal where these explanations or information being presented as fact are derived from. Are these SWEAT activists, advocacy officers, or information from particular reports and studies? Further, statistics from the 2014-2017 versus 2018-2019 reports have been confused. 80,5% (95/118) of deaths between 2014-2017 were due to non-natural causes, not over 48,5% (the 2018-2019 statistic). It is often unclear which report is being referred to. Distinction between “non-natural” death and “murder" is nuanced.

Murder statistics according to SWEAT have been correctly reported in the article (55% between 2014-2017, and 45% between 2018-2019). However, these statistics use a minor sample size and are obtained from studies that admit to difficulties in collecting accurate data. Seleka complicates the reporting in referencing both studies unclearly. One must also question where the rest of her information was obtained.

This piece as a whole is therefore misleading.