Ballito is now home to a global movement tackling human trafficking across 18 countries.

Love Justice International, a Christian non-profit dedicated to combatting human trafficking through transit monitoring, opened its first office in Ballito last year. The organisation places trained staff at key transport hubs to intercept potential victims before exploitation occurs. South Africa officially joined the movement in 2016.

Love Justice South Africa was founded by Nikki Still, who wanted to be part of a global social justice initiative aimed at saving lives. Operating under the umbrella of Love Justice International, the local branch receives funding, training and support, while adapting international monitoring methods to South Africa’s unique context.

“We are always exploring new ways and places to fight human trafficking. Our mission is to share the love of Christ by protecting those most vulnerable from wicked people with wicked intent. Our motto is to love people and fight for justice,” said Still.

The Ballito office now serves as the organisation’s global training and compliance hub. From here, staff build and maintain internal tools such as the anti-trafficking database that tracks every case. They also train and equip frontline workers across the world, ensuring international compliance and strengthening global operations.

“The Ballito team is always considering better ways of fighting human trafficking. And in the States, we have an arm that focuses on fundraising,” said Still.

One of the organisation’s key local priorities is protecting job seekers from becoming victims. Fake online job adverts, often shared on platforms like Facebook and TikTok, remain a common recruitment tactic used by traffickers.

“We phone the recruiter to verify that the job is legitimate, because we don’t want to stop people from getting real opportunities. Then we contact those who applied and educate them about trafficking and how it works.”

Although still establishing its local footprint, Love Justice International has already made an impact. In June, local churches united for a 10km ‘Walk for One’ beach walk, raising more than R10 000 to support the cause.

“There are many ways for people to get involved, from financial donations to volunteering. The more people know about human trafficking, the stronger our ability to protect vulnerable individuals,” said Still.

To report suspicious job listings, contact Love Justice via WhatsApp or contact 081 487 9698.

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