Cape Town - The Western Cape recorded the highest number of cases of human trafficking reported to the Human Trafficking Hotline last year, with around 35 cases (46.7%), followed by Gauteng with around 18 cases (25.3%).
Ahead of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, observed annually today, the provincial Department of Social Development, Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) and non-profit organisation A21, held a Trafficking in Persons Awareness Day event at the inter-provincial bus terminal in Cape Town yesterday.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline saw an increase of 51% in reported cases in the Western Cape.
The event was to create an awareness, particularly at busy transportation hubs, around signs of trafficking and how to report suspected cases, with police and City law enforcement officers also present.
The most common forms of exploitation reported to the hotline were sex trafficking; forced begging; domestic servitude; labour exploitation/ forced labour; forced marriage; child sexual exploitation and child online sexual exploitation.
The South Africa Annual Hotline Report 2023 shows sex trafficking was the most common form of trafficking reported at 52%.
According to the report, Brooklyn in Cape Town, remained a hot spot for sexual exploitation last year, with multiple reports confirming active trafficking in the area.
“Recruiters approach females in person from various areas in South Africa, most commonly in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, with promises of employment opportunities in Cape Town.
“The recruiter then provides a bus or flight ticket.
“Upon arrival in Cape Town, the victims are taken to various locations in Brooklyn, where they are sexually exploited,” the report read.
From the cases reported to the hotline last year, the largest percentage of victims were South Africans, with other victims Cambodian, Congolese, Ethiopian, Basotho, Malawian, Mozambican, Nigerian, Russian, Zimbabwean, and American.
“The sad reality is that less than 1% of the victims will ever be identified and the reason being is because it is a crime hidden in plain sight,” A21 country manager Katie Modrau said.
A21 South Africa operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
Modrau said that human trafficking can present itself as other social issues or situations such as a sex worker, gender-based violence (GBV), seasonal labourer, domestic worker, or a troubled youth.
“There are many faces of trafficking and the victim doesn't have a sign over their head that says ‘victim of trafficking’.
“In fact the way trafficking takes place, many victims don’t even realise that they are and that’s because of the recruitment methods.”
In South Africa, 47.6% of cases identified were recruitments on the basis of a false job opportunity; 14.3% were recruitments by friends; 11.9% were recruitments by the “loverboy method” or false relationships; 16.7% were cases where persons were sold by family members; and 9.5% were through abductions.
Of the reports made to the hotline last year, 54.6% came from the general public and 4.6% of calls were from potential victims.
SAPS Cape Town Central Captain Ezra October said: “I think we hear too little about these human trafficking cases where there are good prosecutions. I can tell you about solid prosecutions and just because of the interventions between the Hawks and organisations like A21 and many others.”
Social Development MEC Jaco Londt said awareness campaigns were key to stopping traffickers.
“It’s a whole of-society approach that will make sure we tackle challenges like this. We also need to make sure that we call on the private sector to invest more because in our shrinking economy, we are also under pressure as the department but also the NGOs just like A21, they are the ones that also need the funding,” Londt said.
To report potential or cases of trafficking, contact the Human Trafficking Hotline on 0800 222 777.
Cape Argus