ANTI-PLENARY HUMAN TRAFFICKING CAMPAIGN AT ZASTRON

By: Neo Ntsele

Photo: Anti-Human Trafficking Campaign at Samuel Johnson combined School

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The department of police, roads and transport with various stakeholders hosted an anti-plenary human trafficking awareness campaign at Zastron on Thursday, 23.

The campaign started at Samuel Johnson Combined School and concluded at Mooifontein Primary School.

The event was in partnership with the local SAPS, Free State Hawks together with representatives from department of Home Affairs in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Together they formulated a forum called cross boarder crime prevention forum.

Local respected pastors graced the event with their present, among the midst was Pastor Lucky Thene and Ntate Joseph Mnyamezini Mnyameni.

Mr Mohapi from the forum addresses a packed hall, and outlined the order of the day.

"The issue of human trafficking is affecting and bothering South Africa and Lesotho, Zastron is one of the closest town to Lesotho hence we are here today. There are Lesotho nationals who are staying in this town, some without proper documentation and came to seek job opportunities. Human trafficking occurs everywhere and some people are noticing it while others don't, so our visit for the day is to educate the community about this act of crime. If you know someone who is the country illegally and that person is threatened or mistreated by their employee who might be telling the victim that he/she has no rights, that person is in need of your assistance come to their aid by reporting such to the police. Community members need to work hand in hand and report any suspicious behaviour from those close or their neighbours because these inhumane act occurs within our communities", said Mohapi.

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Mohapi highlighted that every year thousands of people are taken into South Africa and sold into forced labour or prostitution.

Victims of trafficking are people who are forced to work as slaves on foreign countries.

They accept attractive job offers abroad without knowing that these offers are false.

They are forced into prostitution or labour with little or no pay to make for their traffickers.

They may be violently abused and made to repay large sums of money to their beneficiaries.

Their passports may be taken away and they cannot escape.

Photo: Community Members at Mooifontein Primary School

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Residents are urged to call toll-free 08600 10111, if they might think they might be a victim of trafficking or know someone who might be.