Human Trafficking and Slavery in Africa

ACDP Notice of Motion

Kent Durr, MP (NCOP) – ACDP

Thursday, 13 June 2002

Kent Durr, African Christian Democratic Party MP and member of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) called on government yesterday in a Notice of Motion, to take note and to remedy the inhuman situation of human trafficking in South Africa and slavery in West Africa, as reported in the US Trafficking in Persons Report of June 2002:


The House notes the report “Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act 2000, trafficking in persons report of June 2002” of the U.S Department of State.

The report states that in the past year, at least 700,000 and possibly as many as four million men, women and children worldwide were bought, sold, transported and held against their will in slave-like conditions. This modern form of slavery is known as “trafficking in persons”. Traffickers use threats, intimidation and violence to force victims to engage in sex acts or labour under conditions comparable to slavery for the trafficker’s financial gain. These traffickers include forced labour in sweatshops, prostitution and sex tourism. The practice also takes other forms namely; abduction into rebel armies, the sale of women and children into domestic servitude and the use of children as street beggars or agricultural workers.

The report rates South Africa as a destination country for women, mainly between 18-25 years old, from other parts of Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia and the former Soviet Union; mostly for the sex industry.

The report says that South Africa has had few trafficking investigations; has no programs in place to help such women; that witness protection only applies to South African citizens; that most foreign victims are immediately deported and thus cannot assist with prosecutions; and that the government has not conducted any public awareness programs.

The House calls upon the government to take note and to remedy the situation in South Africa, and to consider action against countries like the Sudan and in West Africa, where slavery still exists.


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For further comment please call Kent Durr MP at 083 280 2674 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 478 1037