Human Trafficking in South Africa

“The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation,” is stated by the UN Protocol to clearly describe what human trafficking is (UNESCO p12). South Africa specifically, has no official legislation against human trafficking cases. Recently visiting South Africa has shown me how some people live and human trafficking is what can occur based off of living situations. Human trafficking is a worldwide conflict that destroys human rights. These concepts specifically include structural and direct violence, peace building and positive peace. There should be government legislation, along with punishment, created, to stop or greatly reduce human trafficking cases in South Africa. However, legislation and governance won’t completely solve the problem. Therefore, programs to help rebuild victim’s lives should be created.
Human trafficking is a crime against humanity by the intent to deceive and exploit (UNESCO). The trafficking could range from forced labor to sexual exploitation. This is a complex problem and many are involved in the process of human trafficking. The chain involves the recruiters, transporters, receivers, pimps, brothel-keepers, border guards, and last but not least the victims. The government also plays a major role because they have not addressed the problem with legislation. The UN does have written laws against human trafficking, the Palermo Protocol, but this is not specified to any certain country. South Africa also has groups that are against human trafficking in their country. However, these groups are not enough. They need help from the government. Groups such as NPA (National Prosecuting Authorities), SOCA (Sexual Offences and Community Affairs), all develop ways to try and reduce social issues, including human trafficking (UNESCO p48).
Despite these groups, South Africa is known to be a source country, a transit country, and a destination country for human trafficking. They are said to be a “main hub” for trafficking in not only Africa, but the whole world, because they are the most stable country of the whole continent. They have modern cities that bring in tourism as well as development, and because they are the foot of Africa they provide the sea border which provides easy transportation (UNESCO). South Africa is a high source for victims of trafficking based on the poverty, limited job opportunities, and unsustainable living (UNESCO). South Africa is a transit country for other major networks including North America, Russia, and Asia. The commercial sex industry that they are involved in appears to be linked with the Chinese international mafia (UNESCO). Other neighboring countries also provide help with South Africa being a destination country by being transit countries from other major trafficking networks. Swaziland is a prime example of being a transit country for imported Chinese women into South Africa (UNESCO). An interview with a trafficking victim from Rwanda clearly shows the different ways they transport victims, “I walked from Bukavu to Burundi. Then I took a boat for two days to Mbala in Zambia, then to Lusaka by taxi. In Lusaka I paid for a visa to Zimbabwe. After arriving in Harare by truck, I left for Messina where I took the train to Johannesburg and then to Cape Town. For the whole trip I paid US$500.” (UNESCO p24). The victim was promised a better life only to be forced to different countries, to get lost in the moves. The social networks, power, and authorities involved helped to hide the trails. However, the $7-$10 billion dollar a year profited from trafficking is not lost. This is an international conflict. Specifically though, South Africa is involved in an intrastate conflict. The introduction of government legislation, specifically stricter laws around border control, would help prevent trafficking. The local governments also need to get involved. This is where the networking begins. With the right people in the government this could potentially change for the better. A prime example would be cracking down on the border control and not allowing them to let money bribes favor them. The South African Constitution and Bill of Rights states that, “Human rights are also called natural rights. It is argued that they belong to people just because they are human beings. People are entitled to them regardless of where they live in the world or of their position in society. It doesn 't matter what a person 's race, sex, age, class, language, beliefs, culture or religion is, or how much money or education a person has, we all have the same human rights.” (ETU). Human trafficking relates to many different concepts that involve human rights. Structural violence affects peoples’ well-being; socially and personally (Barash & Webels). With trafficking, it is a structural violence that affects peoples’ outlook on life as well as their personal feelings after they become a victim. They don’t believe they can get out of the system. They are bound to that life. The collaboration of the governments can help to reduce the problem. The governments need to see how these individuals could become more productive citizens. Direct violence is more visible as it relates to the hands on violence of victims (Barash & Webels). This can involve raping, beating, verbal abuse, or neglect. These could be obvious issues from the sexual exploitation but these could be issues for children in forced labor as well. They are verbally attacked when told what to do, and punished when they don’t do things right, as well as neglected unlike how their immediate family would treat them.
To become more productive, victims will need help. This is where the concept of peace building can make an impact. Peace building is the establishment of nonexploitative social structures (Barash & Webels) which may include programs for victims after they have escaped their troubles that either help rebuild their mindset or help them get back on their feet financially. These programs could consist of counseling as well as training to establish new job skills.
The use of multiple attacks on human trafficking is the only way to chip away at this problem. Human trafficking is a worldwide issue and South Africa currently has no legislative system involving human trafficking. Laws and governance are a start to elimination. Stricter border control and new victim programs are tactical solutions. It has to start somewhere.

Bibliography

1. UNESCO. (2007). 7-70. “Human Trafficking, especially of Women and Children in Southern Africa (Lesotho, Mozambique and South Africa)”. www.unesco.org/shs/humantrafficking.

2. ETU “The South African Constituion and Bill of Rights” http://www.paralegaladvice.org.za/docs/chap01.html

3. Webel, Charles P., & Barash, David P. (2009). Peace and Conflict Studies. (2nd ed.). California: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Bibliography: 1. UNESCO. (2007). 7-70. “Human Trafficking, especially of Women and Children in Southern Africa (Lesotho, Mozambique and South Africa)”. www.unesco.org/shs/humantrafficking. 2. ETU “The South African Constituion and Bill of Rights” http://www.paralegaladvice.org.za/docs/chap01.html 3. Webel, Charles P., & Barash, David P. (2009). Peace and Conflict Studies. (2nd ed.). California: SAGE Publications, Inc.