Human trafficking on the rise in Polokwane
Limpopo police on Monday expressed concern over the rise in human trafficking, describing the province as a hot spot.
Police held a media briefing in Seshego as part of Human
Trafficking week.
Acting provincial commissioner Nonhlahla Zulu said most victims are from Malawi, Ethiopia and Swaziland.
"We started noticing the [human trafficking] trend early this year and its increasing. Polokwane was sitting at thirty seven [cases] but with incidents that were reported last week, its now sitting at seventy seven," Zulu said.
Police are partnering with NGOs to train officials and create awareness of human trafficking.
Stop Trafficking of People, an NGO that has teamed up with Limpopo police, said people are being coerced into coming South Africa and are then exploited.
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Speaking on an incident where Ethiopian nationals were found last year in a tuck shop, director Corrine Sandenbergh said the victims should not be over-hastily repatriated .
"We must first ascertain that in their country of origin, there is not a worse fate awaiting them," she said.
"Human trafficking is a complex crime. Its a lady walking over the border saying she is a refugee, while a trafficker has cohersed her and threatened her with death if she dares say she was trafficked," said Sandenbergh.