With reports of suspected human trafficking increasing countrywide Germiston City News looks at recent cases, shocking statistics and just how fast the dark underworld of dealing in humans as a commodity is growing.

In September, more than 100 men of which the youngest was reportedly about 10, were found locked inside a house in School Avenue, Sunnyridge, Germiston.

The incident had many similarities to another human trafficking case where 26 Ethiopian men were found locked inside a house in Benoni on August 23.

More recently, in George in the Western Cape, four women were rescued from a house where they were allegedly kept against their will while they were being advertised on an online escort service.

It is alleged that three of the women, were smuggled into South Africa from West Africa in a shipping container and given false passports.

A woman, who police believe was their caretaker, is currently in custody.

The statistics are shocking

Human trafficking has been recognised as one of the world’s fastest-growing criminal enterprises and is estimated to be a $150b (about R2 766b) global industry.

This is according to Laurie Pieters-James, a criminologist and human trafficking investigator.

“The US State Department estimates that 25 million people are victims of labour and sexual exploitation,” Pieters-James said.

She says the Covid-19 pandemic plunged already at-risk populations into increased vulnerability and the resulting global recession is expected to impact those at risk of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation even more.

Impact of Covid-19 on human trafficking

• Intensified root causes of human trafficking
• Intensified and changed kinds of exploitation
• Increased impact on children
• Increased legal and illegal migration
• Disruptions in victim support and services
• Reduced law enforcement
• Interrupted financial support and funding

Detected cases reveal

• Most victims are female
• Mainly adults but increasingly underage girls

Almost 30% of trafficked persons worldwide are children. The figure drastically increases on home soil. In sub-Saharan Africa, 55% are children. The majority of these are victims of sexual trafficking for sexual exploitation.

“Children account for one-third of all detected trafficking victims. Many are used for forced labour, but the majority are for sexual exploitation. In sub-Saharan Africa, 99% of detected victims originate from the area while in Europe, only 25% are local. Most of these cases come from sub-Saharan Africa or Asia.”

Low risk – high reward for traffickers

The average age and amount traffickers make. (Calculated using data and figures in Canada.)
• 12–25: The typical ages of females trafficked for sexual exploitation
• $900 (about R16 596): The average daily profit earned by organised crime from one trafficked person
• $5 400 (about R99 576): The average weekly profits from one trafficked person
• $280 000 (about R5.1m): The average annual profits from one trafficked person

Societal Risk Factors

• Lack of awareness of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking
• Sexualisation of children
• Lack of resources

Community Risk Factors

• Peer pressure
• Social norms
• Social isolation
• Gang involvement
• Under-resourced schools, neighbourhoods, and communities

Relationship Risk Factors

• Family conflict, disruption, or dysfunction

Individual Risk Factors

• History of child abuse, neglect, or maltreatment
• Homeless, runaway, or ‘thrown away’
• LGBTQIA+
• History of being systems-involved (justice, criminal justice, juvenile care, or foster care, etc.)
• Stigma and discrimination