The manager of a South African anti-human trafficking helpline made two claims about the number of slaves and ‘child prostitutes’ in South Africa. Africa Check investigated these startling claims.
Home Affairs officials have put in place strict new travel regulations, which they claim will help prevent 30,000 children being trafficked each year. We previously found this number to be exaggerated. Has new evidence emerged?
What is human trafficking? Is it as prevalent as frequently claimed in local and international media reports? This factsheet endeavours to separate myth from fact.
Are 30,000 children “trafficked” into the sex trade every year in South Africa? Are 30,000 children “currently” being prostituted in South Africa? As Africa Check discovered, the estimates are not supported by available research.