A WORKSHOP to sensitise schoolchildren about human trafficking ahead of the Soccer World Cup was launched yesterday.

The initiative involves the Mpumalanga department of education and the provincial department of justice.

The workshop, which will be conducted until next week Thursday, is aimed at teaching teachers, pupils and non-teaching personnel to be on the alert about child trafficking.

During the workshop, pupils will be taught tactics that can be used to protect themselves in case of abduction or other human trafficking incidents.

"Everyone in the community must play a role in protecting children, so we urge school management teams and teachers to maintain constant contact with parents and to closely monitor attendance and the movement of pupils," education department spokesperson Jasper Zwane said.

He said the workshop would also highlight steps to be followed in reporting human trafficking.

Participants would learn about what the law says about this scourge.

Human trafficking is a worldwide problem, especially in communities that live in border towns.

Meanwhile, nine Nigerian men arrested for alleged human trafficking, are expected to appear in the Ermelo magistrate's court tomorrow.

It is alleged that they forcibly took a number of women from around the country to Ermelo and forced them into prostitution.

The police said the victims were given R30 a day for food, and were from time to time forced to take drugs.

The 12 women, between the ages of 18 and 30, told the police that the men took all their earnings. They were not paid for the job they were doing.

Mpumalanga police Captain Leonard Hlathi said the suspects were being charged under the Sexual Offences Act and for kidnapping.

Human trafficking laws are in the process of being legislated.

Southern African countries that have specific legislation dealing with human trafficking include Mozambique, Zambia, Swaziland and Tanzania.

Most victims of human trafficking are girls between the age of 5 and 15.