PROJECT: EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN SOUTH AFRICA (PART 2)

isabels39
May 6
4 min read

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South Africa remains particularly vulnerable to human trafficking owing to a combination of geographic,

economic, and systemic factors. Situated at the continent's southern tip, South Africa is a regional financial hub,

attracting legal and illegal migration. Its porous borders, high levels of poverty, and deep inequalities create a fertile environment for traffickers to operate. The country serves as a source, transit, and destination point for trafficking,

and its well-developed infrastructure allows for the swift movement of people across cities and provinces.

South Africa's complex socio-economic landscape, marked by widespread unemployment, limited access to education,

and a legacy of inequality, further exacerbates vulnerability to trafficking. The country also grapples with systemic issues such as corruption and overburdened law enforcement systems, which hinder effective anti-trafficking efforts. Furthermore, gaps in inter-agency coordination and victim support services make it challenging to prosecute traffickers and support survivors.

According to the 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), there has been a 25% increase in detected trafficking victims globally, with a notable rise in child exploitation and forced labour cases in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Southern Africa, 124 victims of trafficking for forced labour were detected,

indicating a significant presence of such exploitation in the region.

Renowned safety and security specialist Mr. Mike Bolhuis has been sought for interviews

following recent incidents related to human trafficking.

Listen to the recent interviews here:

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE TRAFFICKING CRISIS:

IRREGULAR MIGRATION:
- South Africa is a destination and transit country for migrants from Ethiopia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
- Migrants lacking documentation or legal status are highly vulnerable to traffickers who exploit their desperation with false job offers or promises of safe passage.
MISSING PERSONS:
- Statistics reveal that a child goes missing every five hours in South Africa.
- Missing Children South Africa reports that over 1,300 cases of kidnapping are reported monthly.
- While some missing persons cases involve runaways or domestic disputes, a significant number remain unresolved, raising concerns about potential links to trafficking networks.
ONLINE RECRUITMENT AND GROOMING:
- Traffickers increasingly use social media, dating apps, and online job platforms to lure victims with false promises of employment, love, or education.
- This trend has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic owing to increased internet usage.
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC ABUSE:
- Victims of GBV are often emotionally and financially dependent, making them susceptible to coercion.
- Traffickers target these individuals, particularly women and girls, for sexual exploitation.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTION:
- Drugs and alcohol are often used as tools of control.
- Traffickers may recruit individuals already struggling with addiction or use substances to create dependency among victims.
FAKE JOB AGENCIES AND LABOUR BROKERS:
- Unregulated or fraudulent labour brokers pose as legitimate employers, especially in agriculture, domestic work, and mining.
- Victims are deceived, trafficked, and forced into exploitative work under debt bondage.
CHILD ABANDONMENT AND ORPHANS:
- Children without strong family structures—especially orphans and street children—are highly vulnerable to trafficking.
- They may be used for begging, sexual exploitation, or illegal adoption.
CORRUPTION:
- Traffickers often bribe officials or exploit weak legal enforcement to avoid detection.
- Corruption among law enforcement and immigration officials undermines anti-trafficking efforts.

South Africa's susceptibility to human trafficking is exacerbated by its strategic location,

deep socio-economic disparities, and fragile systems of protection.

PREVIOUS PROJECTS:

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Mike Bolhuis

Specialist Investigators into

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