Go!
A stranger
grabbed me at the bus stop
caught me at the station
took me across the border
met me at the airport
pushed me into a dark room
bought me my first lace bra and panties
Stop!
bought me my first lace bra and panties
Go
My parents
Ignored my begging and tears
married me off for the money
forced me to work in the factory
in the fields, in a foreign country
sold me for a false promise
eventually forgot all about me
Stop!
eventually forgot all about me
Go
My neighbour
told me to kept it secret
said I was so pretty he couldn’t help touching me
called his friends to join the party
offered me drugs and more money
drove me there and left me
said he’d be back in a week to fetch me
Stop!
said he’d be back in a week to fetch me
Go
A friendly woman
helped them track and catch me
shoved me into the car
showed me how to wear heels and make-up
gave me pills for the pain
a towel for the blood
said I would die if I didn’t shut up
Stop!
said I would die if I didn’t shut up
Go
The old man
explained he was making a movie
another stooed swaying above me
asked me to smile while he studied me
some held my mouth closed as they shoved into me
one dressed me up, took care of my bills
in the beginning I believed I was helping my family
Stop!
in the beginning I believed I was helping my family
I’m a Red Light child
I am not dead, I am lost
In another city, another country
I am not missing, Ive been stolen
I am not a number on a screen
Do you recognise me?
Will you remember my name?
I’m a Red Light child
Asking you to stop!
To listen, to question
To see, speak for me
Make the law to protect me
Take action to free me
Make it stop!
I’m a Red Light child
This is a game no-one should play
Each one of us
Is another one you lose
Make it stop!
Before another day
Another season begins
Make it stop!
Malika Ndlovu, 2009
Commissioned poem for the Western Cape launch of the 2010 Red Light Campaign against Child Trafficking
Soroptimist International Bath and District 