A STOP to the trafficking of children

POLOKWANE – Corinne Sandenburgh is the national director of Stop Trafficking of People (Stop) an independent, Christian value-based organisation which aims to create awareness and educate the public about the realities of human trafficking.

An old Polokwane resident, Corinne now lives in Haenertsburg.

Stop was established just before the 2010 Soccer World Cup to prevent children from being exploited.

“However, human trafficking has not stopped, so Stop carried on with their work. There is a committee in Polokwane which visits schools and educates young girls about human trafficking and how traffickers go about to lure innocent girls and women,” she says.

Corinne herself was a victim of sexual abuse as a child and she has a passion for what she does.

“I am so grateful for the safe house that is about to open in Polokwane by Nobza Javu. Stop will assist with the establishment of the safe house and lend them our travelling house mother for the first six months to train the person to step into her shoes. We have received an amazing welcome at the Polokwane schools we have visited. Stop has resource material available to create awareness in schools, tertiary institutions and for teachers and volunteers who want to join us in combating human trafficking.”

The safe house she refers to will open shortly and will house prostitutes wanting to get out of the trade and victims of family violence and human trafficking.

According to Corinne, Limpopo is a hub of human trafficking, with many people, young and old, being brought in through its border posts for trafficking in the country and to countries abroad.

Child trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation is a big problem, she says.

“They suffer extreme violations of their human rights, including the right to freedom, dignity, security of person, the right not to be held in slavery or involuntary servitude, as well as the right to health. These children require intensive psychological support services before and after being reunited with their families or caregivers.” A study by the LexisNexis Human Trafficking Awareness Index highlighted that 1 196 trafficking victims in South Africa as per media reports, (45% of identified victims last year) were children, with 353 the potential victims of sexual exploitation.

Asked about statistics in Limpopo, she says the number of children detected and assisted are relatively low and is a point of concern.

Corinne says traffickers promise women good jobs away from their homes. Friends and family members often even pay for their transport costs, passports and accommodation to help her take up this “good opportunity”, which does not even exist.

“When they arrive at the new job, their IDs or passports are taken into custody and the girl cannot prove she is in the country legally. She does not have documentation and no job as promised. She is then told she will have to work as a prostitute to earn her keep.

Visit the Stop website at www.stoptrafficking.org.za or contact Corinne at 082 456 2459 for more information.