EPISODE 25 - Transactional and Intergenerational Sex

In South Africa it is common for young girls to have sexual relationships with men who are older than them - sometimes by ten years or more. Often these relationships are entered into with the intent of getting "rewards" such as money, clothes, cell-phones or food, and it is this which distinguishes them as transactional relationships. These are often linked to intergenerational relationships because it is usually the older generations who have the means to offer such "rewards".

These relationships create an unequal power balance and frequently leave young girls vulnerable to pregnancy or STIs as they may be unable to insist on condom use in the relationship. In society it can be seen as disrespectful for a young girl to make demands on an older man - perhaps even one old enough to be her father - and the status and power that comes with money automatically undermines the girl's place in such a relationship.

Lulu, whose name has been changed, lives in Khayelitsha. When she was 15 she began dating older men because she wanted gifts and money which she would use to buy clothes and toiletries. Despite sleeping with different men from day to day Lulu did not use a condom - but each time she was with a man she would come home with money.

At first Lulu knew nothing about condoms and HIV and she has not yet tested. At Lungile Youth Clinic peer educators such as Buyiswa Ntsadu try and educate young boys and girls - many of whom participate in transactional relationships with older men and women - about STIs, contraception and HIV/AIDS. VCT, ARVs, pap smears and family planning advice are all available at the clinic.

Lulu is amongst those attending the clinic where she hears advice from others with similar experiences. Among the discussion topics are the social conditions, whereby girls have little choice but to enter transactional relationships due to poverty, as well as the need to educate partners about the issues. Thankfully the visit helps Lulu to consider testing in the near future.

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It is not just young girls who are made vulnerable by transactional and intergenerational relationships. Many of the men who partake in such relationships are married and their wives are placed in danger to. In Mpumalanga we meet a woman who was infected with HIV after her husband had affairs with younger girls. The couple's child was born HIV Positive and tragically passed away only nine months after birth - it was then that Susan (not her real name) tested and learned her own positive status.

A study by the Human Sciences Research Council found that older people are more likely to think they are not at risk of HIV because of their age - they do not know their status and have never considered the risk when having sex with multiple partners. At the same time older men command the power and respect to overrule condom negotiation in relationships. Thus intergenerational and transactional sex are a key factor in the spread of HIV.

Although Susan confronted her husband he refused to wear a condom at home or to test for HIV and continued his affairs with younger girls. Susan tried to counsel one of her husband's partners - a 15 year old girl - but she was spoilt by the money and refused to leave him. Susan's CD4 count dropped as low as 45 due to stress - she lost weight and suffered insomnia and only through counselling at her local clinic was she able to overcome her depression.

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Organisations such as the Treatment Action Campaign and Gender Justice have created more awareness of these issues and prompted some people to change their ways. Siyabonga Malima from Wallacedene in the Western Cape joined these organisations and learned about condom use, HIV and how much he wanted to be with the one girl he truly loved. He used meet many girls, "promise them the world" and only used condoms "part-time". Siyabonga now attends a youth support group and tries to educate people about partner reduction and condom use. It is a message which needs constant reinforcement because even with improved HIV education many young people still have multiple sexual partners.

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