Lifestyle choice or sex work? The criminality or otherwise of blesser-blessee relationships within the context of the 2021 amendments to the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Act, and the implications for healthcare providers and researchers
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This article critically examines the phenomenon of ‘blesser-blessee’ relationships – arrangements in which older, financially secure individuals (blessers) provide material support to younger individuals (blessees) in exchange for companionship or intimacy. While these relationships have become increasingly visible in South Africa, they are not typically classified as sex work, despite their transactional nature. The analysis is situated within the framework of the 2021 amendments to the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act, which introduced a new category of ‘vulnerable persons’. This includes students and trainees <25 years old residing in institutional accommodation, raising complex legal questions about the potential criminalisation of blesser relationships. The article explores the implications of mandatory reporting obligations imposed on healthcare professionals and researchers, who are now required to report suspected sexual offences involving consenting adults. This may inadvertently encompass blesser-blessee relationships, particularly where the exchange of material benefits is interpreted as exploitative or coercive. The legal ambiguity surrounding these relationships is further compounded by the lack of clear statutory definitions, which risks conflating consensual arrangements with criminal conduct. We present a balanced discussion of the competing perspectives on criminalisation. Advocates argue that blesser relationships reinforce harmful gender norms and contribute to gender-based violence. In contrast, critics caution against overly broad interpretations of the law, noting that such relationships may also involve genuine emotional intimacy and mutual agency. Ultimately, the article concludes that while the legislative intent may not have been to criminalise blesser relationships per se, the imprecise drafting of the amendments creates a legal grey area. We call for clearer statutory guidance and interpretive direction from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to ensure that the law is applied consistently and justly.
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