“Verified statistics on Human Trafficking in South Africa are, to put it bluntly not really in existence. In 2013 The Times published an article titled “30 000 kids trafficked in SA”.
The article claimed that 50 percent of those 30 000, were under the age of 14.” This is according to an article published by Nic Andresen on www.thesouthafrican.com.
Andresen stated that Africa Check tried confirming those numbers, but they were not able to confirm them.
In the article, he added that the fact-checking group said that “the estimates are not supported by available research.”
In May when an actor from ‘Scandal’ was arrested for allegations in connection to a human trafficking syndicate where girls were held at a brothel in Springs, the incident raised more awareness towards local human trafficking.
On July 11, two girls were approached by two males and a female at the Shoprite Sophiatown centre robots.
According to an alert by the Sophiatown Neighbourhood Watch, the three people who approached the girls asked where they can exchange foreign currency and the lady said that she was selling weaves.
The older girl overheard one of the men over the phone saying that he has two girls and that the price was R70 000.
The Sophiatown Neighbourhood Watch urges parents to inform their children not to speak to strangers and they provided two alternatives to getting away in the case of an emergency.
If they feel threatened let them approach a security or police officer.
If none of the above is available let them scream to draw attention to the situation.
The two girls walked away to a police vehicle parked at the Sophiatown Shoprite Centre. The suspects were driving a black vehicle, unfortunately, no further details were disclosed.
For more news follow us on these platforms:
Twitter: @SowetoUrban, Facebook: Soweto Urban News, Instagram: @SowetoUrban
News site 1: Westside-Eldos Urban News, News site 2: Soweto Urban News
