June 6, 2013Produced by Frank Ferro
In 2011 Special Assignment exposed the “Crime Corridor” between Mozambique and South Africa. At the time the border fence along the Lebombo Mountains was under the control of the SAPS with the SANDF in the process of taking full control of the border line. Our investigation then uncovered the human trafficking route across the mountains into South Africa – a dangerous stretch of bush used by traffickers to smuggle young children into the country for forced labour or sold as sex slaves.
Almost 2 years has passed since then and in this episode of Special Assignment we go back to see what has changed since the SANDF took control of this notorious part of the border. We join Colonel Bobelo and his men on a convoy along the border fence and discover that in fact, the border fence has almost been completely destroyed as troops toil daily with the tedious task of mending the fence. This appears to have kept them away from doing regular border patrols which is an essential part of crime fighting.
We find further evidence of the implications of this when our investigation also leads us to the border town of Naas which is halfway between Mozambique and Swaziland borders. This rural town is considered to be a transit point for all trafficked victims. In Naas, victims smuggled through the fence usually stay for a few weeks before they are moved to Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Young girls are used as sex slaves in the country’s brothels. The young boys are often used as street vendors to earn money for their handlers. Some are also employed as farm labourers. Father Jean Pierre, the Roman Catholic Priest in the area, says in terms of his observations as the convener of all stakeholders hoping to combat cross-border crime, human trade appears to be rising and adds that things have gotten worse since the army moved in. Thirteen-year old “Ronaldinho” is one of the many victims of this crime – smuggled to work as a child vendor in the streets of Naas. Join us as we accompany him on his repatriation back to Mozambique. We expose the magnitude of this crime and explore the challenges in the repatriation process of the victims.
Only on SABC 3 at 21:30
But are the authorities doing enough to combat this crime?While the MEC for Social Development in Mpumalanga says her department lacks the capacity to deal with the increase in trafficked children, Colonel Bobelo cited a number of successes – with weapons having been seized, stolen vehicles recovered and millions of rand’s of counterfeit cigarettes confiscated at the border but it appears that they have been unable to stem the tide of increasing numbers of people smuggled across the border.
The NPA says the passing of comprehensive legislation to combat human trafficking would give prosecutors greater powers to effectively deal with cases of trafficking. They currently have to rely on fragments of other laws to prosecute offenders. The Anti-trafficking bill was passed by the National Assembly and is now at the National Council of Provinces. But Anti-human trafficking activists say it could be a while yet, before the bill is passed into law as government ponders on some of the bill’s requirements such as victim compensation and repatriation.
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