Unmasking the human trafficking crisis in SA

IT IS often said that “the most dangerous threats oftentimes come wearing a friendly face”.

- TSWELOPELE MAKOE

It seems this is the case for South Africa, where human trafficking has been ravaging our society of late.

Mere weeks ago, it was widely reported that more than 200 South Africans were currently stranded in Thailand, after having been lured into a sophisticated human trafficking ring with the false promise of employment in Myanmar.

This past week, various South African influencers were entangled in a national uproar after promoting the Alabuga Start programme, which was found to be a human trafficking scheme luring countless young women in with the promise of Russian-based work and education.

What this has actually highlighted is that social media has become a whole new frontier for traffickers, and now more than ever, these dangerous syndicates are hiding in plain sight - behind the guise of innocent likes, shares, and friendly DMs.

This is a frightening reminder that when trust is exploited to funnel youth into dangerous traps, we must question not only the schemes but the systems that allow them to thrive. In our post-apartheid society, human trafficking is often attributed to a combination of gender inequalities and economic disparities and instability.