Awareness march against human trafficking
Members of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church came out in their numbers marching in the streets of Ackerville against human trafficking.
Members of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church came out in their numbers marching in the streets of Ackerville against human trafficking.
The members, dressed in black, marched and sang to voice their protest against human trafficking. The marchers were led by Bishop Joe Sandri and Father Linda Zwane on Sunday February 11. Prayers were also held along the way.
Two children from Hlalanikahle were kidnapped recently; 13 year-old Gabisile Shabani and 15 month-old Nkosikhona Welcome Ngwenya were kidnapped on the same night. Several other cases have been reported in the city about suspected kidnappers.
Members of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church marching in the streets of Ackerville against human trafficking. The march was held on Sunday February 11.
Bishop Joe Sandri and Father Linda Zwane leading the awareness march against human trafficking held on Sunday February 11in the streets of Ackerville.
Human Trafficking Awareness day is held on February 8 which is a St Josephina Bakhita Feast. Human trafficking is the selling and buying of people and the exploitation of their labour. It is doubtful that any other country is untouched by trafficking, especially of women and children for sexual exploitation. It is generally referred to as modern day slavery. Children especially are sold for low prices and human trafficking is a very hidden crime growing in Africa. It is a serious human violation, a total disregard for the dignity of the person.
One of the aims of the awareness march was to bring to mind two of Africa’s ancestors who suffered this evil, St Josephina Bakhita and Saartjie Baartman. The feast of St Bakhita is celebrated in a prayer through the intercession of St Bakhita (trafficked as a small child) for and end to human trafficking.
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Another aim of the awareness is to assist readers to stay informed and conversant with the reality of human trafficking, to discuss in their communities and parishes and make a commitment to work against it and to continue to stand in solidarity with those who are trafficked.
A young child holding a poster about human trafficking
Mrs Lizzy Msindo-Mayeng speaking about the problem of human trafficking at the entrance of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Ackerville after an awareness march.
Mrs Lizzy Msindo-Mayeng in her address pointed out the dangers of human trafficking. She pointed out that many young women and girls are sold into prostitution. Children are sold as domestic workers, for criminal activities or for hard labour. Young people are forced into pornography while other people are abducted for organ removal.
Young girls are also forced into marriages and people with albinism are kidnapped for ritual purposes. Mrs Msindo Mayeng also noted that some traffickers work alone while others work in syndicates or gangs.
St Josephina Bakhita was born in Sudan. Sometime between the age of seven and nine she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders who had already kidnapped her older sister. She was forced to walk bare foot for over 900 kilometres and was sold twice.
Young members of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church standing at the altar near a picture of St Josephina Bakhita.
She lived her life as a slave for many years. She later entered the Canossian Sisters and stayed as a missionary in Italy where she spent the rest of her life. She was declared blessed and given February 8 as her feast day. She was canonised and became St Josephina Bakhita and died in 1947.
Young people of the church presented a play and candles were lit in her memory and men made a pledge.
