HUMAN TRAFFICKING: The road to a sex and slavery hell

That is the opinion of Corinne Sandenbergh, chairperson and director of the board of Human Trafficking SA.

Sanderbergh told the Letaba Herald that Human Trafficking is the third highest profitable organised crime in South Africa.

The Herald spoke to Sanderbergh, after several cases of missing children and or attempted abductions were reported on in Tzaneen and in towns and cities across  South Africa.

In one case a 10 old girl went went missing from Soekmekaar last week. Her body was found on Monday October 10.

A little boy’s body was found floating inside the cattle dip at Olifantshoek in the Hlanganani Policing area, was allegedlly abducted in Giyani.

The police told the Herald on Monday that the post mortem revealed that the boy had ‘drowned.’

Earlier in September Letaba Herald reported on a man that was arrested for kidnapping a 9 year old girl.

It is alleged that the suspect kidnapped the child along the streets of Mamaila village and took her through the bushes to Mapuve village outside Giyani.

In the process, he requested accommodation at a certain family alleging that the victim was his own child and along the road his car broke down. The girl was raped and the suspect ran away. The police were alerted and he was later arrested.

Last week, Letaba Herald also reported of a seven year old Tzaneen Primary School learner that was almost kidnapped from a well known restaurant in Tzaneen.

“My eye was on a woman that spoke to my friend’s daughter at some point, but I did not make much of it. The woman walked out of the restaurant hand in hand with the little girl”, the Herald was told. “We noticed that she was leaving with her, one of my friends ran through the restaurant and we ran onto the balcony area screaming her name”. The unidentified kidnapper let go of the little girl’s hand and left the parking area in a black jeep, we were told.

The article’s response drew the attention to concerned parents who told the Herald of similar experiences.

In both incidents there were signs that it could lead to abduction.

“My children told me that they saw this one lady, twice already at a restaurant. She normally wears a white dress and she is taking pictures of children. I am so afraid there is a woman walking around with pictures of my children,” a resident said to us.

Another resident phoned the Herald and said: “A black shiny car was parked close to our house, about four men were in it and they tried to lure the child away.” I alerted her, she ran back to the house and they left,’ the woman said. In both cases they were advised to report the matter to the police immediately.

The name of the restaurant can not be mentioned, as no cases of attempted or suspicion of abduction have been reported to the police.

The Limpopo Police Spokesperson Colonel Ronel Otto urges parents to know where their children are at every moment, especially the younger ones.

“You should know what your children are doing, and teach them not to trust strangers and to run away when they feel uncomfortable. Teach them not to climb into strangers’ cars and not to take sweets and toys from them as this is how they lure them,” Otto said.

According to Dave Protter, from the Tzaneen Crisis Centre, child trafficking is unfortunately a reality.

“It is of the utmost importance that any case whatsoever be reported to the police”, Protter told the Herald.

If people report cases like this, the possibility that a syndicate gets exposed, is not ruled out. Be vigilant at all times no matter where you are with your children.

A parent whose daughter was almost kidnapped at the Boskruin Village Shopping Centre in Johannesburg also warned other parents to be more vigilant while walking with their children at the centre, Randburg Sun reported.

“It is a multi million rand industry. The community must remember that someone can abduct a child, a woman or a man for that matter, sell the child for one amount and the third party can make money out of that child 10 to 20 times over,” Sanderbergh told the Herald.

People should take caution, do not think that because we live in a small town this can never happen to you, it can happen anywhere, Sanderbergh warned.

“Abduction occurs in vulnerable areas, such as rural and remote areas. Money normally plays a big role. You can’t even trust your best friend or family member”, Sanderbergh said.

This may sound harsh, but with the recent torrent of news on abduction and attempted abductions, it is not to be take lightly.

Ironically, South Africa held a STOP (Stop Trafficking of People) awareness campaign last week. Children need to be empowered not to be victims of abuse. Children need to be taught that no person may touch them inappropriately and that there is a law to protect them, should someone try, according to Sanderbergh.

‘Civil society has come on board in South Africa and various NGO’S are assisting Government in rolling out prevention programs in training victim identification and various other programs in assisting and helping to role out and help implement human trafficking legislation,’ she said.

A Safe House for victims of abduction in Tzaneen is in the pipeline for next year.

Sanderbergh invites schools to get in contact with her, if they wish for her to visit schools for a workshop with the learners. She can be contacted on: 082 456 2459.

You can also phone the Human Trafficking emergency toll free number: 080 022 2777.

If you suspect anything, phone the nearest Police Station or the crime stop number 086 001 0111.