South Africans stuck in Asia after fleeing scam centre

South Africans rescued from an infamous scam centre in Myanmar should be brought home as soon as possible to avoid trouble, according to Willem Els of the Institute for Security Studies.

- Masoka Dube

He was commenting after it transpired that about 50 South Africans, who were part of a group of people rescued from the scammers' compounds last week, were stranded.

Some are struggling to cross the border from Myanmar to Thailand, as there is a civil war in Myanmar.

It is alleged that criminal syndicates are trafficking people to use in illegal scam operations and related activities.

Last week, a group of hostages rescued by Myanmar soldiers, who later allegedly demanded ransom to release them, overpowered the soldiers and escaped.

"Some South Africans are at the border trying to cross into Thailand. Some nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) are trying to assist, but there's a lot of hardship, a lot of uncertainty, a lot of fear among victims.

"Once they are back in Thailand it will be easy to get them back to South Africa.