‘Blesser’ phenomena holds many dangers

THE age-old sugar-daddy phenomena has been repackaged and sold as a brand new concept, called ‘Blesser’ which is spreading on social media like wildfire.

But law enforcement agencies and community watchdogs regard this as thinly veiled prostitution and extremely dangerous for participants.

The KZN Human Trafficking, Harmful Traditional Practices, Pornography, Prostitution and Brothels Task Team, is probing the ‘Blesser’ phenomena, which is fast gaining popularity among especially female students for material gain.

According to the latest trend, rich older men, ranked on a scale of one to three depending on what the person is willing to offer, make known their willingness to ‘bless’ a woman of his preference with luxury items such as clothes, exotic trips and cars, in return for sexual favours.

Blessings are normally associated with Godly favour, but the term is now being used by unemployed woman sharing photos of their lavish lifestyles and items they have been ‘blessed’ with on Instagram, which seemingly kick-started the craze.

Interested women can inbox their photos and details to the ‘Blessers’ and if they are chosen, will receive a ‘starter pack’.

The Facebook posts are hash tagged with #moralsmustfall.

According to a local policeman, sugar daddies targeting high school girls and poor students have always been problematic, but social media now fuels the fires and enable the practice to flourish.

A blesser finder app with a geo locator is available to view the closest ‘blessers’.

Prostitution in South Africa has been illegal since the 1957 Sexual Offences Act, which states that any person who has unlawful carnal intercourse or commits an act of indecency with any other person for reward, is guilty of an offence.

While participants are being warned not to meet ‘blessers’ in private, the dangers of rape, human trafficking and even murder, are obvious.