Children are often exposed to multiple forms of exploitation during the human trafficking process. Human trafficking has become one of the most deeply entrenched criminal enterprises in South Africa. Estimates suggest that as many as 250,000 people may have fallen victim to human trafficking in the country, according to a Human Sciences Research Council study.
The Global Slavery Index estimates that about 155,000 people are living in modern slavery conditions, which include trafficking, forced labour and sexual exploitation. Unlike counterfeit goods or other illicit markets, human trafficking does not leave obvious physical evidence. Instead, it relies on exploitation that is deliberately hidden, making the true scale of the crime difficult to measure.
Researchers and law-enforcement agencies consistently warn that official figures capture only a fraction of what is occurring. South Africa is classified as a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking. Victims are recruited locally, trafficked within the country, and moved across borders into and out of South Africa.
[paywall]
This positioning reflects the country’s role as a regional economic hub, as well as its porous borders and high levels of inequality. Human trafficking typically involves the exploitation of people through force, fraud or coercion for purposes such as forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and child trafficking. Victims are often recruited through promises of legitimate employment, education opportunities or romantic relationships, only to find themselves trapped in exploitative situations.
[/paywall]
