It's an adult-only fair that promises to cater for every fantasy,
but South Africa's annual "sexpo" drew an unusual exhibitor on
Friday: the Salvation Army.
Tucked between sex-toy stands and skimpily dressed hostesses, the
Christian group famed for its charity work said it was there on a
mission to raise awareness about sex trafficking.
"We are not here to judge anybody, that's not our job as
Christians," said spokeswoman Major Carin Holmes.
"We want to make people aware that there could be danger to this
trade."
Holmes said they were encouraged by the reception they had received
from visitors to the Johannesburg expo.
She said over 500 people had signed their petition opposing the
traffic of women into the sex trade.
"This is a great platform to spread our message. People need to
know that sex is not always sexy."
The church group's cubicle featured posters of naked girls with
bruises on their bodies.
The Sexpo sexuality and lifestyle show is currently in its sixth
year.
"Me and my wife have been attending this event since 2009... we
always look forward to it," said 65-year-old Fred Smythe.
"It's exciting and there is nothing unlawful or forbidden about
it," he added with a smile.
The four-day event, which draws several thousand visitors a year,
includes pole dancing and adult puppet shows.
But it was the penile artist Pricasso who appeared to attract the
largest crowds on Friday.
The middle-aged artist, only clad in a pink high hat and a matching
bow tie, used his penis as a paint brush to conjure up impeccable
portraits before an appreciative but gobsmacked audience.
According to the Sexpo franchise owner, Arthur Calamaras, the show
"has grown greatly" over the years.
"Most of the visitors are women, they even come in groups, that
means they love what they see here," he said.
"Part of the show is to educate people about sensuality, to make
them aware of their bodies."
He shrugged off criticism that the show was undermining women in a
country with one of the highest rates of sexual violence.
"People will always have prejudgements... everything here is
decent, nothing is done to demean anybody. We are not about that,"
he said.
