Home News Kimberley, Kuruman and Colesberg identified as human trafficking hot spots

Kimberley, Kuruman and Colesberg identified as human trafficking hot spots

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Minister Lindiwe Zulu to raise awareness regarding human trafficking among road users and the communities of Colesberg and Noupoort.

Depiction of slavery, human trafficking

KIMBERLEY, Kuruman and Colesberg have been identified as human trafficking hot spots in the Northern Cape.

The spokesperson for the Department of Social Development, Lumka Oliphant, said on Tuesday that roads in these areas connected the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Free State provinces.

“As a result, young women and children are trafficked and transported into other provinces, where on arrival they are forced into prostitution and child labour, while others are killed and used for muti purposes,” said Oliphant.

She added that the high prevalence of unemployment, especially in the Colesberg and Noupoort communities, made women and children more vulnerable to human trafficking and sexual offences.

“In the process, the constitutional rights of most women and children are compromised as a result of human trafficking.

“Based on these findings the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu will, as part of protecting women and children against the plight of human trafficking, raise human trafficking awareness among road users and communities of Colesberg and Noupoort.”

Oliphant said that the awareness campaign was being held in partnership with the departments of Health, Education, Home Affairs, Transport, Safety and Liaison, the Commission on Gender Equality and Victim Empowerment Programme volunteers.

“According to a 2020 global report, traffickers often prey upon the marginalised and impoverished persons. Most disturbing is that the report further highlights that out of every 10 victims detected globally, five of them are adult women and two are girls.”

The provincial head of the Hawks, General Kholekile Galawe, and the MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Nomandla Bloem, will also form part of the programme.

A fun walk will be held in Colesberg, on the N1, on Thursday at 10am, followed by the main event that will be held in Noupoort on Friday at the KwaZamuxolo community hall at 10am.

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