Human trafficking in South Africa has increased significantly and women and children are mostly affected.
The University of Johannesburg reports that trafficking occurs at a slightly higher rate for girls than boys, with 55.5% of all trafficked people in South Africa being female, and 44.5% being male.
The Department of Social Development (DSD) said it reaffirmed its commitment to combat human trafficking, focusing on safeguarding children as part of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
According to the June 2023 publication “Human Trafficking in South Africa” by the Human Sciences Research Council, it is estimated that a possible 250 000 people have fallen victim to human trafficking in South Africa alone. This constitutes a grave violation of human rights and dignity. On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the department said it stood united against this heinous crime.
As the world observed the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, the DSD said the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons (PACOTIP) Act of 2013 was a crucial legislative tool in the fight against human trafficking in South Africa.
It provided a comprehensive legal framework to prevent and combat human trafficking, protect and assist victims, and prosecute offenders.
Gyan Dwarika, the Deputy Director responsible for Child Exploitation within the DSD, said the PACOTIP Act - in conjunction with the Children’s Act - upheld the safeguarding vulnerable children.
Apart from child exploitation, Dwarika’s roles within the department include focusing on child labour, the commercial sexual exploitation of children, online safety, and child marriages.
“The act ensures that any child identified as a victim of trafficking is treated as a child in need of care and protection, mandates immediate reporting and investigation of suspected cases, and provides for the safe placement and care of trafficked children,” she said.
Dwarika outlined the key provisions of the PACOTIP Act, noting that it required anyone who suspected a child was a victim of trafficking to report it to the police immediately. The act also outlined steps for temporary safe care and the assessment of the child’s status as a trafficking victim. Additionally, it included provisions for the repatriation of foreign child victims, ensuring their safety and considering their best interests before returning them to their country of origin.
She said children from impoverished and unstable backgrounds were particularly vulnerable to trafficking. “Traffickers exploit situations such as poverty, lack of education, gender-based violence, and inadequate parental care,” Dwarika said.
She said traffickers often lured children with promises of a better life and education or material resources, taking advantage of their desperate circumstances.
Dwarika said the South African government, through the DSD, had implemented various measures to prevent child trafficking.
The PACOTIP Act aimed to align with international agreements and provided for the prosecution of traffickers, the protection of victims, and the co-ordination of anti-trafficking efforts. Dwarika said awareness and education programmes informed communities about the risks and signs of trafficking.
She said victims of child trafficking received comprehensive support and rehabilitation services from the DSD. These included psychological counselling, medical care, legal assistance, and placement in Child and Youth Care Centres. “Our multidisciplinary team works to assess and address the needs of each child, providing therapeutic programmes to help them recover,” said Dwarika.
She added that community involvement was crucial in preventing and combating child trafficking. Schools, parents, and local organisations played a vital role in protecting children and reporting suspicious activities.
Dwarika emphasised the need for proactive steps to safeguard children, understanding the methods used by traffickers.
Dwarika said international co-operation was essential in tackling transnational trafficking, providing required services, and facilitating the safe repatriation of victims.
“International co-operation strengthens the response to the repatriation process of children trafficked into and out of South Africa. It ensures that children are repatriated safely and in line with international standards, considering factors like the best interests of the child and the safety of the repatriation process..
“Partnerships and collaborations between South Africa and international bodies play a crucial role in the fight against child trafficking. The International Social Services (ISS) Directorate within the department has partnerships and collaborations with countries that are signatories to ISS and embassies,” Dwarika said.
These partnerships assisted in ensuring the care, protection, and repatriation of children in foreign countries, aligning with international agreements on child welfare.
She said while technology had been exploited by traffickers to lure and control victims, it could also be a powerful tool in the fight against trafficking.
The Films and Publications Board monitored online activities to detect and prevent violations. Raising awareness about the risks associated with online interactions was a key preventive measure.
Dwarika expressed hope for a future where collaborative efforts ensured the care, support, and protection of all children.
“Parents and communities must understand the methods used by traffickers and take proactive steps to safeguard children,” she said.
According to the US government’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: South Africa, the US government did not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but was making significant efforts to do so.
The report said these efforts included increasing investigations and convictions of traffickers; investigating and prosecuting some allegedly complicit government officials; co-ordinating with foreign governments on trafficking investigations and repatriation of victims; increasing co-ordinated labour inspections to investigate forced labour; adopting an anti-trafficking NAP; accrediting two shelters; and expanding awareness-raising activities.
The report said the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, even considering the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity.
“While the government finalised and approved the implementation regulations to operationalise the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act immigration provisions, the regulations await final adoption and were not yet in effect at the end of the reporting period,” said the report.
Missing Children South Africa’s statistics indicate that 77% of children are found. However, this means that at least 23% of missing children are never found, and had been trafficked or were found deceased.
According to the 2023/24 SAPS crime statistics between July and September, there were an alarming 4 300 reported cases of kidnapping.
Reports suggest that most of these kidnappings occur in Gauteng.
Experts have warned that kidnappers were targeting not only the rich and affluent, but also people in lower-income communities.
The country ranked first in Africa for kidnappings and seventh worldwide.
Saturday Star