Human Trafficking In South Africa

Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labour. Human trafficking is one of the greatest injustices on our planet today; it is second to the drug trade as the largest criminal activity in the world.

This illegal trade is a form of modern day slavery which is not only a dehumanizing crime, stealing away an individual’s dignity, but a myriad of other complex social and health issues surround it. For example: victims of human trafficking are generally subjected to intimidation, rape, drug abuse and countless forms of violence. 

It is estimated that nearly 2 million children around the globe are currently in forced sexual exploitation. Of the estimated 2,000,000 persons trafficked each year, Africa accounts for 450,000.


South Africa has an estimated 30,000 child prostitutes. The vast majority of these human trafficking victims are young women under the age of 18 years. There is a growing need to protect South African citizens from crimes such as trafficking, and to educate them on both awareness and prevention. Studies show that South Africa is one of the main countries for human trafficking activity.

Victim protection weak

South Africa is a major human-trafficking destination for victims from within the country, the region and beyond, yet there is no legislation that specifically criminalises human trafficking and protects victims. A human trafficking law would give police and the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) a better tool for prosecuting offenders.

The experience of Mozambique and Zambia, which both passed counter-trafficking laws in 2008, suggests that legislation can improve prosecution rates while doing little to help victims. The State Department report points out that Mozambique has not taken the necessary steps to implement the protection and prevention provisions of its anti-trafficking law, and that Zambia’s protection for victims is also weak.

The South African government does not provide any funding for the care and accommodation of trafficking victims. "Victims have a variety of needs and there's a severe gap," Rohde of IOM (international Organization for Migration) confirmed. Poor screening by the police leads to some victims without documentation being arrested and deported. 

The IOM has held training sessions for officials from various government departments on how to identify and assist trafficking victims, and it was noted that several departments were drafting regulations in anticipation of the bill being enacted.

Let’s minimise the Traffic 

The methods used to recruit people:

· People are lured with promises of employment or educational opportunities abroad,
· Deception and false promises,
· Some victims respond to advertisements in the belief that they would secure a job in a new place. Traffickers usually make use of advertisements in which they offer work at, e.g. a health club or restaurant,
· Others are sold by family members, friends, or a family friend into the modern equivalent of slavery,
· Traffickers pay for women’s travel expenses and accommodation,
· On arrival at the place of destination, they are informed that they will be required to pay back these costs,
· Passports and other travel documents are taken away,
· No option but to work in the sex industry,

For the traffickers, this business makes good money, since it is often hidden and hard to address. Children are vulnerable in the case of sexual exploitation, as it is mostly seen as a private matter and communities are reluctant to change their attitude towards sexual exploitation. Child exploitation can also include forced labour or services, removal of organs, trafficking for early marriage or illicit international adoption

Causes of Human Trafficking 

· Lack of economic opportunities,
· Gender discrimination, particularly, in access to employment and education,
· Tolerance of gender-based violence
· Conflict
· Breakdown in law and order
· Growth of global, commercial sex industry,
· Unregulated labour markets that enable exploitative practices to flourish

· Global demand for: 

1. Slave labour
2. Child labour
3. Sex trafficking (prostitution)
4. Child soldiers

Watch out for our next blog post on Human Trafficking Prevention Methods.




Written by:  Zibusiso Nzimande
TBT (Thoughts Become Things) Creative Agency
Director