A draft Bill has been submitted to Parliament to enable authorities to prosecute all forms of human trafficking, the National Prosecuting Authority said on Wednesday.
Previously only perpetrators of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation could be prosecuted, head of the authority’s sexual offence and community affairs unit Malebo Kotu-Rammopo told a media briefing in Pretoria.
The legislation will provide for prosecution for the purposes of labour exploitation, among others.
Kotu-Rammopo said women and children remain the most affected victims of gender-based violence. In response to this, better co-ordination is needed to turn them from victims into survivors.
”Victims of trafficking will not be prosecuted for immigration violations and prostitution,” she added.
An initiative currently under way to address the scourge of women-based violence is the Thuthuzela Care Centre.
Currently, there are 10 centres countrywide, with an additional seven expected to be established by the end of the year, and a total of 50 by 2010. — Sapa