Human trafficking in KZN – the real deal behind the hype

Human trafficking has been on everyone’s lips due to horrific videos and “statistics” flooding social media recently causing widespread panic as moms fear for their children’s safety.

Zululand-based pastor and founder of the anti human trafficking organisation Freedom Generation, Caroline Pitout said the lack of reporting makes understanding the rate of human trafficking locally difficult.

“Although there are many rumours of abductions, kidnappings and human trafficking, we are not seeing the matters in black and white via the police channels.

“Nationally, 400 people – mainly adults – have been reported to be trafficked between 2016 and 2017,” said Pitout, who through Freedom Generation has developed resources like colouring books to educate grade RR to grade three pupils about human trafficking.

Umhlali SAPS Captain Vinny Pillay said there is no evidence that human trafficking videos and stories shared on social media are legitimate cases.

“Not a single case has been reported in our area so far. However, we urge the community to be vigilant and if you see something suspicious such as a child getting into a stranger’s car try to get the vehicle registration number and phone us immediately,” said Pillay.

Also read: SAPS warn against false child abduction videos circulating on social media

A local mom, who has to remain anonymous for safety reasons, is a member of transit monitoring organisation Love Justice that monitors travelers to prevent human trafficking at its most crucial point.

“Human trafficking is real, but social media is completely blowing the situation out of proportion and Whatsapp groups are the biggest guilty party,” said the mom.

“If you Google ‘kidnapping in Ballito’ a million different pictures and stories come up, but when you look into them they are not current or are not from the area.”

She said while human trafficking can happen anywhere, it most often happens in poor environments because people are vulnerable and desperate for money or a way out.

“The sad reality is that we live in a country with such high poverty problems that people will do bad things or get themselves into a situation that is not safe just for little money.”

She believed the most vulnerable are children walking to school and back on their own.

“The little tots who walk to Sizani for example are in danger – they need the community to help them be it older kids walking in groups with them or grandparents monitoring the walk. The best way to beat human trafficking is for us to start behaving more like a community and look out for each other.”

Remember these top tips to be savvy about human trafficking:

1. Don’t over share. Avoid posting the details of your child’s upcoming birthday party on Facebook or sharing photos of them in their school uniforms.
2. Do not meet strangers in their homes or in an isolated place, go somewhere safe and let people know where you are and how long you expect to be there.
3. When you are at a restaurant or play area, do not rely on the child minder to watch your child.
4. If a stranger takes photos of your kids, run for the hills and report it to SAPS immediately.
5. Practice security drills with your children: if you lose mom in the mall call for help; if someone pics you up from behind scream; if someone other than mom collects you up from school, ask the school to phone mom and check.
6. The golden rule is to report a missing child or person immediately to SAPS – do not wait 24 hours as they say in movies – and phone the Human Trafficking Hotline: 0800 222 777.

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