An ANC MP on Tuesday proposed that prostitution be legalised during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

'It is one of the things that would make it [the tournament] a success because we hear of many rapes, because people don't have access to them [women],' George Lekgetho told a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture in Parliament.

His suggestion was met with a groan of protest and chuckles from other MPs.

'If sex working is legalised people would not do things in the dark. That would bring us tax and would improve the lives of those who are not working,' he added. DA MP Sydney Opperman disagreed, saying one could not commercialise relationships.

'You cannot attach a price to the deepest union between a man and a woman and link it to our tax base.'

They were speaking following a presentation by the Arts and Culture Department on its plans for social cohesion for 2010.

Another ANC MP, Christopher Gololo, said the matter should be 'thrown to the public' to debate. Arts and Culture Department Director General Thembinkosi Wakashe agreed with this.

Turning to other matters, ANC MP Peter Maluleka expressed concern that tourists coming to South Africa for the soccer event would be met with a 'very glaring absence of friendly, welcoming smiles' in shops and other service centres.

Wakashe proposed that a campaign to improve customer service should be linked to the Proudly South African Campaign. Wakashe outlined the department's wide-ranging plan for 2010. It included promoting social cohesion, eliminating poverty and racism and creating a suitable economic environment for hosting the cup. The plan would also address social fragmentation, as was evident in hiigh crime levels, and building and upgrading cultural facilities like libraries and art centres.

MP's called it 'very beautiful', 'a massive programme' and 'over exciting'.

When asked how much this would cost, Wakashe said the plan would be revisited and compared to actual allocations in the medium term expenditure framework.

- SAPA