Child prostitution a major problem on the East Rand

In many cases, relatives sell children for sexual purposes, while some children are abducted for such devious criminal schemes.

This is according to social worker and director of GRIP Productions, Jath van der Westhuizen.

GRIP Productions is involved in various projects to raise awareness of combatting drug abuse, human trafficking and sexual exploitation of men, women and children in South Africa.

This includes the publication of books and producing of films.

Van der Westhuizen said most children who disappear do know their traffickers, which points to family members being involved.

“Runaway teens are also vulnerable, as many of them face the danger of falling into the net of traffickers who wish to exploit them,” he explained.

“Vulnerable communities where there is poverty, crime, drug abuse and unemployment are more exposed to this threat.”

According to figures released by the South African Police Service Missing Persons Bureau for 2013, a child goes missing every five hours in South Africa. This adds up to a total of 1 697 children per year.

Fortunately, according to Missing Children South Africa’s statistics, 77 per cent of children are found.

“Sadly, this still leaves us with at least 23 per cent of the children not being located,” said van der Westhuizen.

“It is crucial to find the children within the first hour. Thereafter, the chances of tracking them downbecomes less.”

He said that South Africans, specifically parents, are totally ignorant of the lucrative and dangerous underworld of sex trafficking in South Africa.

“These people (traffickers) have specific recruitment strategies in place. They will not target only the poor, but any child if safety measures are not in place,” he added.

“They target dysfunctional families where they know there’s little chance of tracing them.”

He explained that human trafficking takes place in three stages.

“There’s always first the stages of recruitment, then transportation to another location, whereafter the exploitation takes place.”

Van der Westhuizen pointed out the following crucial lookouts for parents to prevent their children from becoming human trafficking victims:

* Always know your child’s whereabouts; be cautious if the child becomes secretive.

* Know their friends and especially the parents – house parties could be a place for spotters.

* Make sure your child’s school has the necessary security and policies in place.

* Make sure that a grooming process for sexual abuse and possible abduction is not happening right under your eyes.

* Make sure your child remains drug-free; drugs and human trafficking go hand-in-hand.

* Be careful of some West-Africans.

Van der Westhuizen said this has nothing to do with xenophobia, but it is a reality that some of these people are dangerous and control the heroin and cocaine industry in South Africa.

He mentioned that traffickers approach children through other children who are already in the network.

“They make all sorts of financial promises to children, especially runaways,” he explained.

“Therefore, be aware that traffickers also approach children through drugs and spotters.”

Van der Westhuizen also emphasised that all children are targets, regardless of race. However, blonde, white, blue-eyed girls are extremely popular for the overseas market.

As recommended by van der Westhuizen, parents whose child was abducted should take the following steps to ensure the safe return of that child:

* Report it to the SAPS immediately. The Organised Crime Units and Flying Squad are geared up to deal with such emergencies, not the patrol vans and those at the charge offices. They will provide the necessary support.

* Take the case number to the Pink Ladies Organisation for missing children. They are active on grass-roots level in communities, to help trace the missing child.

* GRIP Productions is also connected to private entities that have the necessary expertise to assist. Contact van der Westhuizen for more information, at jath@gripproductions.org.

* Involve your local CPF members who have their ears on the ground.

Vicky Project

As part of GRIP Productions’ awareness initiative, they be hosting, in partnership with the Pink Ladies, a Vicky Fun Day in search for young talent to feature in the movie, Vicky.

GRIP Productions is in the process of producing a film as part of the Vicky Project. It will be based on the Afrikaans book Vicky, is based on true events and tells the story of two girls who were victims of child trafficking in South Africa.

“The essence of this program is to create awareness of human trafficking and to promote child safety in our communities,” said van der Westhuizen.

Children between the ages of six and 14 can take part in the auditions for the role in the movie. Entry forms will be available at the gate or email van der Westhuizen.

There will also be loads of other activities on the day, such as allowing the Pink Ladies Organisation to take your child’s fingerprints.

The fun day will take place at Laerskool and Hoërskool Elspark, on Saturday, August 1.

Van der Westhuizen is also looking for schools to help market the book Vicky (Grip Productions is hoping to fund the translation of this book into English in the near future).

“We are also appealing for help from interested parties to arrange an open air audition as part of our awareness campaign to raise funds for our movie, and at the same time to help find the necessary actors for our movie.” – @IschkeBoksburg

Fundraiser looks at human trafficking horrors |

Support the fight against human trafficking

Charity Tea raises funds for human trafficking