DEPARTMENT EMPOWERS OFFICIALS TO TACKLE CHILD TRAFFICKING

By Lawrence Mashabela.

• The Gauteng Department of Social Development hosted a capacity-building session to strengthen frontline responses to child trafficking.
• The training, held in partnership with the National Freedom Network and other stakeholders, equipped social workers with tools to identify and respond to exploitation.
• Experts and participants highlighted collaboration, awareness, and ongoing education as key to protecting vulnerable children.

In an effort to combat the growing scourge of child trafficking, the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD), in partnership with the National Freedom Network and other key stakeholders, hosted a capacity-building session at Renew Church in Fourways, Central Corridor. The workshop, held last Friday, aimed to enhance the province’s ability to identify, prevent, and respond to cases of exploitation.

Delivering a presentation during the session, Amy Arnold from Unchain Our Children described child trafficking as one of the most pervasive and destructive crimes in society today.

“Capacity-building initiatives like this are vital to empower those on the frontlines of protecting children. These trainings equip social workers with the knowledge, skills, and sensitivity needed to identify trafficking indicators, disrupt criminal networks, and uphold the rights and dignity of victims,” Arnold said.

She further urged attendees to view the training as a catalyst for meaningful change, emphasising the importance of collaboration across organisations, as no single institution can win the fight against trafficking alone.

Goitsemang Mokaleng, a school social worker from the Autism School in Krugersdorp, said the workshop provided valuable insights.

“There was so much information we are taking away that will improve our knowledge, especially the emphasis on protecting children from traffickers,” Mokaleng said.

Echoing this sentiment, Braedene Bevan from Curamus School for Autism described the training as empowering.

“Now I understand better what trafficking is and how to respond to suspected cases. I also know the proper channels for reporting,” Bevan shared.

Participants engaged in robust discussions on prevention strategies, case identification, interviewing techniques, and relevant policies. The session concluded with a collective call for stronger cooperation among social workers, law enforcement, and civil society to protect children and dismantle trafficking networks across Gauteng.