Top officials linked to human trafficking

WIDESPREAD corruption in the form of complicity by officials has been identified as a key challenge in addressing all transnational crime, including human trafficking.

At least two National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) prosecutors, police officers and an acting judge have been implicated in related crimes.

This is according to this year’s Trafficking in Persons Report by the US Department of State, which provides a comprehensive overview of the state of human trafficking around the world and the tools being used to stop it.

The department prepared the report using information from US embassies, government officials, non-governmental and international organisations, published reports, news articles, academic studies, consultations with authorities and organisations in every region of the world, along with information submitted to tipreport@state.gov.

The report found that traffickers recruit victims from neighbouring countries and rural areas within South Africa, particularly Gauteng, and exploit them in sex trafficking locally and in urban centres such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Bloemfontein. Traffickers force adults and children, particularly those from poor communities and rural areas, as well as migrants, into labour in domestic service, mining, food services, construction, criminal activities, agriculture, and the fishing sector.

“Traffickers recruit both foreign and South African victims through fake job advertisements on social media and classified advertisement forums, including advertisements for webcam modelling, hospitality, mining, and domestic work,” the report stated.

According to the report, the South African government recognised official complicity as a key challenge in addressing all transnational crime, including human trafficking, and investigated and prosecuted government officials.

Incidents detailed include the prosecution of the co-defendant of an acting judge, who died before criminal proceedings began, for multiple trafficking-related crimes.

“The government charged three SAPS officers for extorting potential trafficking victims in a case reported in 2021; the case remained ongoing.

“Two NPA prosecutors were implicated in a potential corruption scheme for obstructing efforts to hold a high-profile public figure accountable for alleged child sex trafficking over several years; the government did not report any actions taken against the prosecutors.”

The report, which covers government efforts undertaken between April 2022 through March 2023, further stated that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) initiated 29 trafficking case investigations – 19 for sex trafficking, eight for labour trafficking, and two for unspecified forms of trafficking – and continued 35 case investigations from previous reporting periods. The NPA initiated 15 prosecutions of 30 suspects and continued 28 prosecutions of 74 suspects from prior reporting periods.

The government convicted 14 traffickers in eight cases, including two forced labour cases, compared to the conviction of 11 traffickers in the previous reporting period. Sentences for traffickers ranged from 15 years to life imprisonment.

Observers reported some SAPS officers were unwilling to investigate cases, particularly of children forced to engage in street vending or begging, and relied on NGOs to obtain victims’ statements and build cases.

Hawks national spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbombo confirmed that a number of officials from various departments have been arrested for their participation in facilitating these crimes.

“The DPCI has a national structure of co-ordinators and investigators that provides operational support to provinces. Subsequently, provinces’ TIP (trafficking in persons) co-ordinators performing similar functions to that of national co-ordinators under the economic protected resources section. Workshops and training are provided by human resource development of the SAPS and in collaboration with the US.”

The NPA and police did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.