By Kgomotso Mokoena
Human trafficking has proven to be a scourge plaguing governments and societies worldwide. In particular South Africa has become a hub for the business of trading in human lives. Particularly children have been common victims of this dark trend with up to 25% of sex workers in this country being children.
Trafficking includes the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of person for forced labour of services or slavery. The most prominent incidences of trafficking involve young women and girls being forced into prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation upon arrival in a new city or country. Young boys are often recruited for the same purpose in addition to being involved in drug smuggling and dealing.
South Africa is a source, transit and destination country for trafficked men, women and children. The National Prosecuting Authority’s report Tsireledzani: Understanding the Dimensions of Human Trafficking in Southern Africa, identifies various trafficking flows prevalent in the country. Intercontinental trafficking to South Africa from outside of Africa involves victims from places like Thailand, the Philippines and the Ukraine. Victims from other African countries include those from Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Lastly, domestic trafficking involves mostly victims from rural areas being brought into major cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town.
South African Justice Minister Jeff Radebe attempted to fast-track new human trafficking legislation before the 2010 FIFA World Cup, an event thought to be a catalyst for a boost in human trafficking, but seemingly to no avail. In truth, this legislation was well overdue but also textually and substantively flawed in a number of areas and so should not have been rushed. The law, the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill, is however still in the pipeline and likely undergoing changes. It aims to make trafficking a statutory crime and create steeper sentencing regimes for perpetrators but also should consider greater support for victims, especially children, in line with South Africa’s international legislative obligations in this regard.
The continued exploitation of these victims is aided by various factors. Firstly and most prominently high levels of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy serve to breed desperation. Young victims accept what they believe are decent jobs at restaurants or resorts only to discover that they have been lured into large, well-oiled trafficking syndicates. Secondly the relationship trafficking has with the abuse of narcotics serves to pacify victims. Lastly collusion with corrupt immigration officials and lax security measures at border posts continues to allow the steady flow of modern day slaves in and out of the country.
One can only hope that the pending bill, when finally in full effect, will help to curb the seemingly smooth flow of lives through our borders.
