Recently police in North West intercepted a truck packed with thirty children who were being trafficked to an unknown destination. The reports of human trafficking have been on an increase in the last two years. It is for this reason that the Gauteng Department of Social Development, West Rand Region Social Workers participated in a public education on human trafficking on Westside FM community radio.
Speaking during the interview, Zandile Mthimkhulu of GDSD, said human trafficking was the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a persons by means of threat, use of force, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power, position of vulnerability, receiving or giving of payment, or benefit to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.
Other purposes include sexual exploitation (forced prostitution & pornography) forced labour (domestic work, agriculture labour, construction work, child soldier), illegal activities (removal and of trading of organs)".
Mthimkhulu added that victims could consent to move to another place or country and deceived not knowing exactly what the circumstances will be. Some are trafficked through job advertisement on newspapers where the perpetrators will advertise that people are needed for jobs without experience.
The perpetrators now take advantage of Covid-19 pandemic as more people have lost their jobs and become more desperate. "We know the pandemic is hampering economic opportunities, so as a department we raise awareness to ensure they lookout to these kinds of traps. They will be lured under the false pretense by saying, they will earn more money overseas or cross-province".
Kehumile Taunyane,who also participated in the interview appealed to the listeners to be more vigilant and take care of children when they go to and from school. Taunyane urged the public to report any suspicious activities related to human trafficking to the police. Listeners were also urged to call TIP Resource Line 0800 222 777 or Social Development Hotline 0800 220 250. Taunyane alluded that there are shelters that accommodate victims of human trafficking.