A 26-year-old man from Mayfield, Daveyton, has finally returned home after falling victim to a human trafficking scheme that lured him overseas with the promise of employment.

The young man, whose identity is being withheld due to the sensitivity of the case, is among 17 young people rescued as part of a group of 120 South Africans who were allegedly trafficked through Thailand and later exploited in Myanmar.

The group arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on January 22 following a coordinated repatriation process led by the National Intersectoral Committee on Trafficking in Persons (NICTIP), which includes government departments responsible for law enforcement, social services and immigration.

According to the Department of Social Development, the victims came from provinces across the country, including Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, the Free State, North West and the Western Cape. Gauteng accounted for about 80 of the victims, highlighting the widespread reach of trafficking networks that have been operating since at least March last year.

Social Development MEC spokesperson Teddy Gomba said most of the victims were recruited through social media platforms such as Facebook, as well as by people known to them, including family members, former colleagues, acquaintances and church members.

“The recruitment process often involved online interviews conducted via WhatsApp or email, with recruiters arranging and paying for air tickets, accommodation and other travel logistics, making the offers appear legitimate and highly attractive,” said Gomba.

Prevented from contacting family
One of the repatriated victims, a 25-year-old man who asked to be referred to as The Don for safety reasons, said he had been the breadwinner at home since 2022 after his mother died and his stepfather disappeared shortly after the funeral.

“I had been working for a fuel distribution company for a year, and my contract was not renewed. Because of my family situation, I had to look for work, and this opportunity came up.

“We communicated through WhatsApp and email. As a software developer, I was promised work but ended up being used as a data capturer. Although we were given accommodation and food, the conditions were bad,” he said.

He added that his first concern arose when his visa was arranged only after he had already arrived overseas. He also described being moved between numerous vehicles before reaching the final destination and being prevented from contacting his family.

“We were never allowed to call our families back home. Because I sometimes resisted, I was fined and punished most of the time. The breakthrough came when one of the people died. The place was then surrounded by the military and police, shut down, and we were rescued,” he said.

Beware of suspicious job offers
Gauteng Social Development Trafficking in Persons coordinator Takalani Sekoba explained that human trafficking generally involves three key elements: recruitment, transportation and exploitation.

In terms of Section 4 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act (Act 7 of 2013), human trafficking includes the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons through threats, force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or the exchange of payments or benefits for exploitation.

Exploitation may include sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, or even the removal of organs.

The department has warned communities to be alert to suspicious job offers, especially those that seem too good to be true. Red flags include recruitment without formal contracts or verifiable company details, interviews conducted only online, offers that include fully paid travel and accommodation, and pressure to make quick decisions or keep the opportunity confidential.

Parents, educators, community members, and faith-based organisations are urged to verify all overseas job opportunities before making any travel arrangements.

Suspected human trafficking cases or suspicious job offers can be reported to the Trafficking in Persons Resource Hotline on 0800 222 777, the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre on 0800 428 428 (available 24 hours a day), or the SAPS.

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