VANDERBIJLPARK.- The Vaal Community In Action Organisation organised a human trafficking awareness march in the Vanderbilpark CBD last Thursday, 5 October.
The organisation’s Project Manager, Noxolo Guqaza, spoke to Sedibeng Ster and explained that the march aimed to raise awareness about human trafficking in response to reports they had received about such incidents in the area.
The march received support from various organisations, including members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), as well as community members who joined in to promote awareness. The participants marched through the streets of Vanderbijlpark, with a particular focus on areas like Becqueral, which is known as a hotspot for prostitution and crime.
Guqaza stated: “We have observed that Vanderbijlpark is one of the towns affected by human trafficking, and this march is aimed at making the community aware of such incidents. I am pleased with the support from everyone, especially members of SAPS and the community.”
She highlighted that human traffickers often target young women, particularly those who finish work late in the evening. Guqaza encouraged young women not to walk alone in town at night and expressed the organisation’s commitment to assisting and working closely with the police to combat this issue. As a parting message, Guqaza thanked everyone who contributed to the success of the march and stressed that together, they would overcome this battle.
She emphasised that no woman should feel unsafe while working on the streets. Young women voiced their concerns, indicating that they no longer felt safe working on the streets, particularly in the evenings. They stressed that reports of human trafficking had heightened their anxieties about their safety in their own surroundings.
