VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS SMUGGLED INTO SA

Fri 10 January 2025:

Human trafficking is thriving in South Africa due to the country’s weak borders, according to an expert. Police rescued more than two dozen Ethiopian hostages in Johannesburg on Thursday.

“One would not expect in 2025 that we are living with what we call modern term slavery. This slavery can take the form of persons being trafficked or persons being indentured,” said forensic investigator Chad Thomas in an interview with Newzroom Afrika.

A night-time raid in Sandringham led to the arrest of three individuals. They were allegedly involved in human trafficking and possessed an illegal firearm.

Thomas used the incident to draw attention to the prevalence of human trafficking. He said many people are promised work opportunities. Instead they are forced to work, sometimes as sex workers.

“Trafficking in persons is prevalent throughout the world, but it’s become exceptionally prevalent in South Africa because of our porous borders and issues that we have within law enforcement.”

“The people that have come from neighbouring countries and further abroad come here sometimes as what we call ‘economic refugees’. They’re coming here because they want to have a better opportunity to try and make money and they believe that South Africa has opportunities.”

“A lot of these vulnerable people are lured here under false pretenses. Their families back home are under the control of gangs, so they can’t really do anything to try escaping South Africa or … blow the whistle because they’re concerned about the safety of their families back home.”