The first week of October is marked as National Trafficking in Persons Week by government, where annually, the NPA coordinates events aimed at raising public awareness on the scourge of human trafficking.

Trafficking in persons is a modern form of slavery, where traffickers use people’s vulnerability to lure them under false pretences and subject them to slavery.

Again, people are trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced marriages, labour exploitation, and forced labour, domestic servitude, street begging and removal of body parts.

The provincial inter-sectoral task teams will embark on awareness raising campaigns, public education and capacity building during this period.

The expected outcome is an informed society and increased public debate on issues around trafficking in persons. However, due to its hidden nature, trafficking is very difficult to quantify.

The number of victims assisted by the International Organisation on Migration (IOM) since 2004 shows that South Africans are being trafficked to other countries.

Available: http://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/npa-raise-awareness-human-trafficking