In a concerning development, the recent bust of a human trafficking ring in Johannesburg has shed light on the growing problem of organised crime and exploitation in South Africa.
The South African Police Service (SAPS)’s Special Task Force (STF) at the weekend rescued 90 undocumented individuals, including a kidnapping victim, highlights the disturbing reality that the country is becoming a hub for human traffickers and criminal syndicates.
The incident, which occurred in the Sunnydale Ridge area of Johannesburg at the weekend, saw the victims – mostly Ethiopian nationals – being kept in inhumane conditions, confined and packed into rooms.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the bust occurred while law enforcement agents were searching for an individual who had been kidnapped earlier last week.
“A multidisciplinary team led by the STF were tracing a victim of kidnapping for ransom when they also made the discovery of the undocumented nationals who were found locked up, confined and packed into rooms,” Mathe said.
She said SAPS is investigating how the foreign nationals were trafficked into South Africa.
This grim discovery comes on the heels of several other high-profile cases that have shaken the nation in recent years.
Last year the police busted another human trafficking ring involving some Bangladeshi nationals.
Some 19 Bangladeshi nationals suspected to have been trafficked into South Africa were rescued during a raid on a house in Mpumalanga province.
In 2022, authorities in South Africa uncovered another human trafficking ring, leading to the rescue of 14 Malawian nationals who were being held captive.
Earlier this year, a group of 16 foreign nationals, including children, were rescued from a house in Johannesburg, where they were being held against their will.
These incidents paint a troubling picture of South Africa’s growing vulnerability to human trafficking and organised crime.
Experts attribute this trend to a combination of factors, including porous borders, a lack of resources for law enforcement, and the country’s status as a regional economic powerhouse, which makes it an attractive destination for criminal syndicates.
The 2022 Global Organised Crime Index (GOCI) ranked South Africa among the top 20 countries with highest crime rates in the world.
The report ranked South Africa in 19th position in the world of organised crime such as human trafficking, drug peddling and gun running.
It said traffickers recruit people from other countries to the country, where they are then forced into domestic servitude, sex trafficking and other forms of forced labour.
It blamed the racketeering to corruption at South Africa’s borders where the colour of money is more powerful than that of a passport.
The country was described as both a destination and transshipment point for drugs that arrived via sea routes, air routes or overland routes. The drugs trade was controlled by organised criminal groups.
Another criminal activity, the report noted, was that South Africa had a significant flow of arms, and that these firearms were overwhelmingly used by criminals to intimidate, injure or kill people.
JN/APA