/ 24 March 2003

SA is main destination for sex trade

South Africa is the main destination for the trafficking of people for the sex trade in southern Africa, a report has found. Victims are from most countries in the region as well as from Thailand, China and eastern Europe.

The report, undertaken by the International Organisation for Migration from August 2002 to February 2003, says international syndicates also buy and sell people in South Africa. Regional victims of trafficking are recruited by deception, coercion and force. Those victims from outside the region are recruited by deception.

Trafficking in the country is mainly organised by refugee syndicates.

”Refugees are both victims and perpetrators of trafficking to South Africa.”

Male refugees struggle to survive unemployment and xenophobia in the country, therefore, many choose to recruit female relations from their country of origin to South Africa. The woman are 25 or older, married and have children.

Individual traffickers are assisted by ethnically-based refugee syndicates in delivering the recruiting letter to the victim in her country of origin. They also escort her to South Africa and sexually assault her as an initiation to sex work should she resist upon arrival.

”The refugee traffickers will take all earnings she receives as a sex worker and, to protect his investment, he will assist the victim in applying for refugee status to prevent her deportation should she be detained by the police,” the study says.

These traffickers all have refugee status in South Africa and have been in the country for more than a year. Victims come primarily from countries in Africa which are experiencing turmoil.

They are required to earn R250 or more each night. Exploitation occurs in private accommodation or on the streets. The report says the absence of specific legislation criminalising trafficking in southern Africa is a main obstacle preventing the police and prosecutors from investigating these crimes and charging perpetrators.

When identified by police in South Africa, victims of trafficking are deported as illegal immigrants without being questioned about their experiences, it says. Victims are afraid of law enforcement and do not trust police to assist them.

South Africa also has no public service specifically designed to assist women and children being traded. The exploitation suffered by Africans in the country ranges from exploitation for the personal sexual gratification of the trafficker, sexual exploitation for the financial benefit of the traffickers, and forced ”marriage” for sexual and labour exploitation.

The exploitation of those from eastern Europe and the Far East is primarily for the financial benefit of the trafficker, and occurs at brothels throughout the country. – Sapa