THE DEPARTMENT AND PARTNERS TAKE THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO BOSMAN STATION

By Sipho Ncube.

• The Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) and partners hosted a Provincial Qaphela Awareness Campaign at Bosman Station to raise awareness about Trafficking in Persons (TIP).
• The initiative forms part of government’s ongoing efforts to empower communities to identify, prevent, and report human trafficking.
• The campaign emphasised the importance of prevention, education, and a victim-centred approach in supporting survivors of trafficking.

On Friday, the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD), in partnership with various stakeholders, hosted a Provincial Qaphela Awareness Campaign on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) through a service blitz at Bosman Station in Tshwane.
Trafficking in Persons is often described as a “hidden crime” because of limited public understanding and the difficulty in identifying victims. The blitz forms part of government’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness and empower communities with information to identify, prevent, and report TIP cases.
South Africa is a signatory to the United Nations Palermo Protocol of 2000, which supplements the Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime and informed the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2013. Prevention, education, and awareness remain critical tools in the fight against this crime, particularly for women and children who are most vulnerable.
The blitz reached hundreds of commuters and community members, providing vital information on the realities of human trafficking, available support services, and how to report suspected cases.
Speaking during the event, Victim Empowerment Programme Director, Ms Pearl Moabelo, said, “This campaign forms part of the 365 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and Social Development Month. It starts during the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, runs through National Trafficking in Persons Week in early October, and culminates with the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.”
Moabelo explained that rescued survivors are placed in shelters that provide psychosocial support to help them heal and rebuild their lives. “The victim-centred approach has proven to be the most effective rehabilitation intervention, restoring dignity and giving hope to survivors of exploitation,” she added.
Mr Buti Kulwane, Trafficking in Persons Coordinator from the National Department of Social Development, highlighted the social and economic vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit. “Gender, age, education level, disability, lack of legal documentation, and language barriers all contribute to an individual’s vulnerability to trafficking,” he said.
The Qaphela campaign continues to shine a light on this hidden crime, urging all South Africans to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activities in order to protect the most vulnerable members of society.