Trafficking in humans is the third most lucrative crime in South Africa next to drugs and weapons, a statement ahead of a conference said on Friday.
At least 500 organised gangs are involved, and researchers have found that trafficking has brought children into prostitution and debt bondage. Mozambican women have been sold as wives and domestic labourers to mineworkers, babies are trafficked for adoption and people are trafficked for ritual muti killings.
South Africa is also a destination country for women and children from Kenya, Latvia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Taiwan, Thailand, Romania, Russia and Zambia. It is a country of origin for Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union, said a statement from Shared Hope International, a non-governmental organisation.
The most affected include:
children from Lesotho where thousands of children have lost their caregivers to HIV/Aids
women and girls from Mozambique and Malawi
Thai, Chinese, and Eastern Europeans
South African children kidnapped or taken into gangs
”We are here to stand with the South African leadership by joining our purposes in fighting this global trade. It is absolutely necessary for governments [and NGOs] to develop a shared vision and capacity if we are going to put a stop to this modern form of slavery,” said Linda Smith, founder of the War Against Trafficking Alliance.
The alliance and South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will hold the ”Next Steps to Path Breaking Strategies in the Global Fight Against Sex Trafficking in South Africa” conference, the fifth follow-up to a world summit held last February.
In December the NPA formed a task team and so far 10 investigations are underway.
The South African Law Commission is also circulating draft legislation on trafficking for consideration in 2004 and police formed an anti-trafficking team at the Johannesburg airport, said the NGO.
The three-day conference will launch the agenda of the task team. It is expected to be launched by Justice Minister Bridgette Mabandla, Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka. – Sapa