Efforts to eradicate human trafficking

Human trafficking has become one of the biggest organised crimes in the world. Its effect has been felt in all areas of the globe as it is one of the hardest crimes to detect and prevent.

In South Africa the trafficking of adults and children has grown immensely. This growth has been linked to several social issues, two of which are unemployment and poverty, hence most of the alleged victims are people who come from underprivileged homes.

These individuals are identified as vulnerable, and due to their circumstance they are easily moved from their homes under false pretenses, such as offers of employment, a better life or better education.

Human traffickers do not distinguish between race, age or gender. Over a million adults and children are trafficked around the world at any given time.

To fight this scourge the South African government, with the help of non-governmental organisations, has geared up to eliminate human trafficking.

One of the tools that the government uses is the new human trafficking act, which was implemented and became operational on August 9, 2015. This act will lead to severe sentencing for convicted traffickers, or a severe fine, depending on each case brought forward.

This act provides a mechanism for the department of social development to eradicate modern-day slavery, by enabling the state to prosecute traffickers and confiscate their assets. The act gives South African courts extra-territorial jurisdiction, an important factor in tackling the crime head-on.

To strengthen the initiative, Gauteng Province has developed an anti-trafficking task team. This team consists of the Department of Social Development, the Department of Health, the SAPS, the Department of Community Safety, the Department of Education and the National Prosecuting Authority.

This group of government departments train the community and non-governmental organisations to help fight human trafficking. The training provided by these government officials enables the community and NGO personnel to identify victims and how to help them.

Those identified as victims of human trafficking are then placed in specialised shelters funded by the Department of Social Development. These individuals are then assessed and are placed under the care of a social worker and psychologist, because these victims in most cases are drug-dependent and have been sexually or physically abused.

Information provided by Nomfundo Lukwe, Gauteng Department of Social Development