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Human trafficking is still rife in South Africa
Thursday, 30th June 2011 I For immediate release
Human trafficking is still a serious problem in South Africa, says one of South Africa’s leading experts in the field. Major Marieke Venter, The Salvation Army’s Divisional Director for Women’s Ministries and its Anti-Human Trafficking Task Team, was referring to the incident involving two Chinese women who have been rescued by police in Cape Town after being brought to South Africa under false pretences and forced to work as prostitutes.
Major Venter said: “South Africa appears to be a destination country for men, women and children subjected to forced labour and human trafficking and The Salvation Army objects to this injustice.
“Some victims are also trafficked within the country, from poor rural areas to urban centres such as Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.”
According to Major Venter, traffickers control victims through intimidation and threats, use of force, confiscation of travel documents and forced use of drugs and alcohol.
“Young women are subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude while young boys are forced to work in street vending, industries, begging, criminal activities and agriculture.”
Continuing its ongoing fight against human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children and women, The Salvation Army urges South Africans to report cases of trafficked men, women and children to its 24-hour toll free hotline number, 08000 RESCU (08-000-73728) sponsored by Be Heard™.
“The toll free helpline is a platform for anyone with tip-offs on all suspected human trafficking cases to report them to The Salvation Army,” said Major Venter.
To donate towards The Salvation Army’s efforts against human trafficking, members of the public can make use of The Salvation Army’s SMS service by SMSing the keyword TRAFFIC to 42290 at a cost of R30. This will go towards assisting the organisation’s centres for abused women and children, as a result of human trafficking, and the protection of victims.
The Salvation Army acts on behalf of the community in providing a better quality of life for those in need. It has developed several programmes to assist women and children who have been abused and therefore continually seeks to promote Christian family values, in order to prevent such abuse.
In addition to its work against human trafficking, The Salvation Army has feeding schemes, centres for abused women, and community upliftment programmes.
The Salvation Army is an international movement and evangelical part of the universal Christian Church and has a professional record in rehabilitating and accommodating trafficking trade victims and addressing social injustice in a systematic, measured, proactive and Christian manner through its International Social Justice Commission.
ISSUED BY QUO VADIS COMMUNICATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE SALVATION ARMY
Media Contact: Ulwazi Mgwadleka
Tel: 011-487-0026
Cell: 083-998-8380
E-mail: click here to email Ulwazi Mgwadleka
Client Contact: Major Marieke Venter
Divisional Director for Women’s Ministries
Coordinator: Anti-Human Trafficking Task Team.
Tel: 011 435 0267
E-mail: click here to email Divisional Director for Women’s Ministries
Client Contact: Captain Piet Semeno
Public Relations Secretary
Tel: 011-718-6745
Cell: 082-994-4351
E-mail: click here to email Captain Piet Semeno
