The sad reality of human trafficking

A large number of organisations were ready to create awareness in a campaign intended to put an end to human trafficking.

The event which was held at the Turffontein Racecourse on Thursday October 5 was spearheaded by the Gauteng Department of Social Development to commemorate victims who had been trafficked and to create awareness.

The campaign is part of a comprehensive strategy to prevent human trafficking.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report which was released in 2016, trafficked victims are sold mainly for sexual exploitation and forced labor, but victims are also being trafficked to be used as beggars. They are often forced into sham marriages or to promote fraud, production and even pornography.

The Department of Social Services said South Africa has the largest number of victims being trafficked. South African children are recruited from poor rural areas and lured to urban centers such as Johannesburg, where girls are subjected to sex trafficking and domestic violence.

International Organisation for Migration representative Tafadzwa Makonese said trafficking is real. She said it is important for everyone to be informed on what trafficking really is. “You’d find law enforcement did not understand how to identify a victim in need of help when in the clutches of traffickers.”

“We have had some success stories though at the O R Tambo airport where cases were reported and victims were saved. We hope this will continue,” Makonese said.

“Everyone has a part to play. She said the lack of knowledge shown by people, including law enforcement agencies, had to change.”

A trafficking victim and survivor, Last Dulani from Rosettenville, shared his story and said human trafficking was a devastating violation of human rights.

He said human trafficking was devious, manipulative and a despicable act. He said it was real. “There are no rules for traffickers. Human beings are being exploited.”

“Farms are being used and traffickers try to convince young boys to work on those farms to make money.”

He shared a story of someone who fell victim to trafficking.

“It’s always the quick, instant money that draws people in.”

He said it was always important to check on children when they play.

“You cannot prevent something that you do not know. So if your children know how to identify trouble from traffickers, they can know what to do in situations of trouble.”

Tips were given by various speakers to help win the fight against human trafficking:

• Never leave your cellular phone or passport unattended when in a foreign place or country. A human trafficker can steal it and leave you desperate in seconds.
• Avoid sharing personal information with strangers.
• A lot of children that fall prey are usually lured into trafficking by strangers that find them on social media.
• Speak to your children about human trafficking.
• Teach them not to fall for the money bait, or free travel as it always comes at a price.

Organisations present on the day were Social Services, Environmental and Personal health, Pest control, The Hill awareness group, day care owners, JMPD, SAPS, Hawks, UNISA, the Salvation Army, International Organisation for Migration, Film and Production board, NGOs, children homes, faith based organisations, ward councillors, CPF Sector 1 and 3, MEC for Health and Social Development Mpho Phalatse and MEC Nandi Mayathula-khoza.

The Gauteng government summoned all organisations to save South African children and women from human trafficking.

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