Human trafficking in South Africa is on the rise: More collaboration is needed

Human trafficking is a multi-faceted, socio-economic phenomenon fueled by problems such as poverty, racial and gender inequality, or political instability, amongst others.  South Africa has been placed onto Tier 2 by the US State Department, which means that it is considered to be a source, transit, and destination country for individuals trafficked for the purpose of forced labour or sexual exploitation.  Although trafficking in South Africa is not a new issue, the extent of the crime has been growing in recent years.  The number of people who became victims of human trafficking more than doubled in the 2021-22 financial year…...