Govt launches task team to combat human trafficking at South Africa’s ports of entry
Deputy Minister Andries Nel says coordinated action across departments and society is crucial to tackling trafficking, as ports of entry remain high-risk zones.
- Human trafficking
- Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
- Views and News with Clarence Ford
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CapeTalk's Clarence Ford is joined by Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel, on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
Listen below:
Tackling human trafficking in South Africa will require a coordination across government departments and the cooperation and involvement of society as a whole.
That's from Andries Nel, the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, who made the comments on Wednesday, which marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
Nel was speaking from a stakeholder-engagement event at Cape Town International Airport, where the department is establishing a task team to support anti-trafficking efforts at ports of entry.
Nel says ports of entry pose a very serious risk.
RELATED: South Africa's porous borders fuel 'human trafficker's paradise'
"If we conscientise people and we train our officials and civil society, it's also a place where we can detect trafficking, apprehend those responsible, and identify victims."
- Andries Nel, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development
Nel says government is committed to fighting the organised crime syndicates behind the country's human trafficking networks by strengthening border security, improving law enforcement coordination, and ensuring harsher penalties for traffickers.
"We spearheaded the Trafficking in Persons Act, which was passed in 2013... it's very comprehensive and very tough legislation. It makes provision for life imprisonment for certain forms of trafficking."
- Andries Nel, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development
RELATED: Human trafficking in SA: ‘It is a low risk, high reward crime’ - Criminologist
Nel adds that the legislation emphasises the need for a victim-centred approach to human trafficking.
"Also, our Act provides for those who might have been trafficked and are illegally in the country, are not allowed to be summarily deported... without the necessary steps being taken to accommodate the fact that they are victims of trafficking."
- Andries Nel, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development
"It's really important, because when we're dealing with trafficking, we're really dealing with the most vulnerable in our society."
- Andries Nel, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development
What else is the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development doing to combat human trafficking? Scroll up to the audio player to find out.