HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MOTORCADE DRIVES THROUGH JOHANNESBURG

By Sipho Ncube

• The Gauteng Department of Social Development, in partnership with the Hawks and the Johannesburg Taxi Forum, organised a motorcade through Johannesburg’s inner city to raise awareness about the dangers of human trafficking.
• The initiative, which coincided with the International Day Against Trafficking in Persons, aimed to educate residents on how traffickers exploit vehicles to transport victims.
• Representatives from the Hawks and the Taxi Forum voiced their commitment to combating trafficking, emphasising the importance of continuous public education and the need to send a clear message to traffickers.

The Gauteng Department of Social Development, in collaboration with the Hawks (the elite crime-fighting unit of the SAPS) and the Johannesburg Taxi Forum, conducted a motorcade awareness drive through Johannesburg’s inner city. This initiative aimed to educate residents about the dangers and realities of human trafficking.

The procession began at Beyers Naudé Square, crossed the Nelson Mandela Bridge, and concluded in Hillbrow, opposite Noord Taxi Rank. Yolanda Matikinca, a representative from the Gauteng Department of Social Development’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) division, emphasised the importance of this campaign. “Today, we are observing the International Day Against Trafficking in Persons and raising awareness that vehicles are often used to transport victims of trafficking,” she said.

Matikinca highlighted that human trafficking affects people of all backgrounds, genders, and ages, with victims being exploited for various reasons, including sexual exploitation and illegal adoption.

Captain Lefa Lebitso, representing the Hawks, underscored the unit’s commitment to combating human trafficking. “As the Hawks, we are tasked with tackling priority crimes, and with Johannesburg being the economic hub of our country, we are here to send a clear message to traffickers: we know who you are, and your days are numbered. We are determined to fight human trafficking relentlessly,” he stated.

Bongani Sikhakhane, from the Johannesburg Taxi Forum, expressed support for the initiative, stressing the importance of ongoing education. “As taxi associations, we fully back government efforts like these. This campaign should be a regular occurrence to continuously educate passengers about the dangers of human trafficking,” Sikhakhane noted.