DEPARTMENT EMPOWERS LEARNERS TO STAY ALERT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

By Lawrence Mashabela.

The Gauteng Department of Social Development held a Trafficking in Persons (TIP) awareness campaign at Meyerton City Hall last Friday, engaging learners in a vital conversation about the dangers of human trafficking and the importance of community awareness.

More than 150 learners from ten schools in Meyerton, Vereeniging and the Lesedi Local Municipality attended the event, accompanied by their teachers. The session aimed to equip young people with knowledge on how traffickers operate and how to stay alert against potential threats.

Social Work Manager Nomhlanhla Lukhele from the GDSD Southern Corridor office said the initiative was designed to help learners recognise and report suspicious activities. “We want young people to be able to report any suspicious activity because trafficking does not discriminate; it can happen to anyone, regardless of age, race, gender or background,” Lukhele said. “It’s important that we continue to run awareness campaigns like this to help our communities understand how these heinous crimes occur, especially since the youth are often the main target.”

Lukhele also urged learners, particularly young girls, to be cautious of people who offer false promises of employment or education, often using social media as a recruitment tool. “Some traffickers will promise things that sound life-changing just to deceive you. Always verify and report suspicious behaviour,” she added.

During the interactive session, Keabetswe Mthimkhulu, a learner from Kgoro Ya Thuto Secondary School in Heidelberg, encouraged her peers to stay united and watchful. “We must love and protect each other. Traffickers can even use people we know to lure us into danger, so we must make it difficult for them,” she said.

Mthimkhulu thanked the department for creating spaces where young people can speak openly about issues affecting their safety. “We appreciate that government involves us in finding solutions to the problem of human trafficking, which affects everyone,” she concluded.

Through campaigns like these, the Gauteng Department of Social Development continues to raise awareness and empower young people to take an active role in protecting themselves and their peers. The initiative underscores the department’s commitment to building safer communities and ensuring that every child and young person grows up free from exploitation and harm.