Following recent posts on social media, SAPS National Commissioner, General Khehla John Sitole has highlighted the seriousness with which human trafficking and other closely related crimes are being dealt with by the SAPS as well as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.
“Even though human trafficking is not prevalent in South Africa as it is in other parts of the world we must adopt a collective approach, ensuring that not a single person, man, woman or child becomes a victim of this crime. We have had sporadic reports in the past of young people, especially females, that were allegedly lured away from their homes on the promise of lucrative jobs only to find themselves being trafficked for sex.
“The cases of kidnappings, abductions and missing persons are also areas of serious concern to the South African Police Service. SAPS, together with other government departments, has put both proactive and reactive interventions in place to decisively deal with such cases. Each of these crimes are committed under different circumstances and with different motivations.”
READ ALSO: Spotlight on human trafficking in Amanzimtoti
A person may be reported as missing following a crime that may have been committed like murder, kidnapping, abduction or the missing person may have just simply run away from home. Whatever the circumstances, it must be reported immediately to the police and there is no waiting period to report it.
A person is deemed kidnapped if such a person is removed against his or her consent and deprived of his or her freedom of movement for ransom. A person is deemed abducted if such a person is removed from the custody of his or her parents for the purpose of marriage or sexual intercourse. However, if such a person is under the age of 16 then the act of sexual intercourse would constitute rape.
The seriousness at which these crimes are being attended to is also highlighted by the fact that they are either investigated by specialised units like the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) or the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS).
“We appeal to anyone who may have information on these crime categories, preferably before they are committed, to contact SAPS on our Crime Stop number 086-001-0111. Information may also be communicated via the MySAPS App, an application which can be downloaded on any iPhone or Android. All information will be treated with strictest confidence and callers may remain anonymous,” said Gen Sitole.
READ ALSO: Woman robbed and stabbed in Amanzimtoti
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