Whatever you want to call them, South African blessers and their blessees have long been the subject of scandalous debate.

Everyone from Jacob Zuma to Blade Nzimande (and those in between) have been rumoured to be a blesser, showering their chosen one in money, gifts and luxury.

OK, but now it seems a new form of financially-rewarding relationships is taking things out of the bedroom and into the public eye.

To pay for her studies, third-year University of Venda psychology student Maria chose to become a “passport girl” rather than finding part-time employment, reports Times LIVE.

Her role? To act as “arm candy for affluent men to flaunt at social events” or on holidays. In return, she earns money for rent, groceries and even high-end weaves.

Gotta have them weaves.

However, as with everything, there’s a downside:

But the role means that the students are expected to ditch classes, neglect study time and miss tests so that they can attend social events and parties as escorts for the men who pay for their company.

The information comes from a study conducted at the University of Venda in Limpopo.

Presented at the Pan-African Psychology Congress in Durban this week, the study “analysed the reasons why many women entered into financial relationships with wealthy men in exchange for sex”.

Here’s one:

Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man’s world

The study was headed by Valeria Baloyi, who became interested in the field “after researching blessers and blessees on social media”:

“Young females flooded social media with pictures of overseas trips, shopping and flashy cars,” she said.

“‘A girl has to do what a girl has to do.’ This is the motivation that these women use to justify transactional sex, and most of these girls engage in these sexual transactions to meet their basic economic needs,” Baloyi said.

“It is inherently exploitative. These men with means see the needs of these women and then use that to take advantage of them,” said Baloyi.

And it’s during her research the notion of a “passport girl” emerged:

“An issue is the decline of the academic performance of these women. Say the blesser has an event somewhere and as a blessee they need to appear with them. They miss classes and they miss tests because of these appearances,” Baloyi said.

Of course you could always get lucky and have R14 million deposited in your account by accident, although that tends to end badly.

According to Kuhlekonke Watu Ntuli, president of the SRC at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College, “hunger and financial constraints were driving students to cash-flush men”:

“Most students from UKZN find themselves in blesser circles largely because of the lack of financial assistance. They are away from home, away from emotional and financial support and social security in general.

“There are young ladies recruiting friends to join this lifestyle. I heard from a lady [that] she gets R2,000 for bringing a friend.

“Beautiful and vulnerable girls become the ultimate blessee, who gets as much as R20,000. This is a big industry. The more the supply the greater the demand. The only solution is introducing a meal station. Lots of girls become victims because of hunger,” she said.

She said men were often seen hanging around the campus in flashy cars. Cringe.

“You even find people of all races parked outside the residence looking for young girls, asking them if they want to go to restaurants.

“Sex happens, but at a later stage. If you are on the R2,000 scale the sex comes very quickly, but those on the R20,000 the guy must first buy you clothes and everything and then you have sex. It’s a business,” she said.

Whether you call yourself a blessee, escort girl, sugar baby or passport girl, you do you. It’s your body, after all.

Just don’t neglect those studies.

[source:traveller24]