Human traffickers are preying on desperate Lesotho nationals seeking better opportunities in South Africa.
The border town of Ficksburg in Free State has been identified as one of the major human trafficking hotspots in the country.
The victims, mostly girls and women between the ages of 15 and 26, are lured by syndicates who even go as far as tattooing the victims to ensure they don't run away.
Phaladi Shuping of the National Prosecuting Authority told a seminar on human trafficking at Meqheleng in Ficksburg yesterday that traffickers took advantage of Lesotho nationals seeking South African identity documents.
"Because of desperation, these women easily believe theirpromises,"Shuping said.
Captain Phumelelo Dhlamini of the Ficksburg police station said human traffickers often duped the women with the promise of a great life in South Africa.
Once they arrived in the country they realised they had been sold a pipe dream.
"Most of these women come to South Africa seeking employment. They would leave their countries with a promise of a job.
"It is only when they arrive here that they realise that they were fed lies," Dhlamini said.
He said it was not easy for the police to detect human trafficking in the beginning.
It was only once the victims, who were subjected to all kinds of abuse, reported the cases to the police, that the element of human trafficking became apparent.
"The victim would report a case of rape and when we are busy with the investigation we realise that she had been trafficked from Lesotho.
"Others say that after arriving in the country, they are promised marriage.
"Only later the woman realises that the man is actually married, so that means throughout that period she was sexually exploited. That also forms part of human trafficking," Dhlamini said.
In a desperate attempt to flee their abductors, the victims would then find themselves on the street either as prostitutes, drug addicts or drug mules.
"They eventually become prostitutes. They would run away to escape that abuse and end up as prostitutes to try and make enough money to go back to their respective countries. Sometimes the victims are drugged and turned into sex slaves and on other occasions they are used to transport drugs."
Andrew Goliath from the border control operating coordinating committee said the victims show signs of fear, anxiety and their movements were controlled.
Last month the government announced that Lesotho nationals illegally residing in South Africa would get amnesty while border post officials would no longer be required to stamp the passports of that country's students and mineworkers.
This came after discussions between Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba and his Lesotho counterpart, Lekhetho Rakuoane.
Ficksburg haven for traffickers
Human traffickers are preying on desperate Lesotho nationals seeking better opportunities in South Africa.
The border town of Ficksburg in Free State has been identified as one of the major human trafficking hotspots in the country.
The victims, mostly girls and women between the ages of 15 and 26, are lured by syndicates who even go as far as tattooing the victims to ensure they don't run away.
Phaladi Shuping of the National Prosecuting Authority told a seminar on human trafficking at Meqheleng in Ficksburg yesterday that traffickers took advantage of Lesotho nationals seeking South African identity documents.
"Because of desperation, these women easily believe theirpromises,"Shuping said.
Captain Phumelelo Dhlamini of the Ficksburg police station said human traffickers often duped the women with the promise of a great life in South Africa.
Once they arrived in the country they realised they had been sold a pipe dream.
"Most of these women come to South Africa seeking employment. They would leave their countries with a promise of a job.
"It is only when they arrive here that they realise that they were fed lies," Dhlamini said.
He said it was not easy for the police to detect human trafficking in the beginning.
It was only once the victims, who were subjected to all kinds of abuse, reported the cases to the police, that the element of human trafficking became apparent.
"The victim would report a case of rape and when we are busy with the investigation we realise that she had been trafficked from Lesotho.
"Others say that after arriving in the country, they are promised marriage.
"Only later the woman realises that the man is actually married, so that means throughout that period she was sexually exploited. That also forms part of human trafficking," Dhlamini said.
In a desperate attempt to flee their abductors, the victims would then find themselves on the street either as prostitutes, drug addicts or drug mules.
"They eventually become prostitutes. They would run away to escape that abuse and end up as prostitutes to try and make enough money to go back to their respective countries. Sometimes the victims are drugged and turned into sex slaves and on other occasions they are used to transport drugs."
Andrew Goliath from the border control operating coordinating committee said the victims show signs of fear, anxiety and their movements were controlled.
Last month the government announced that Lesotho nationals illegally residing in South Africa would get amnesty while border post officials would no longer be required to stamp the passports of that country's students and mineworkers.
This came after discussions between Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba and his Lesotho counterpart, Lekhetho Rakuoane.
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