Human trafficking in South Africa 2015-2024, by tier ranking
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South Africa's continues to struggle with human trafficking; however, improvements have been observed as the country has been upgraded from its position on the tier two level watch list to level tier two in 2024. The country has been reported as a hub for human trafficking as it is not only a host for human trafficking, but also facilitates sourcing victims and transferring them to other countries. The South African Police Services (SAPS) have discovered that some human trafficking cases are related to the 17,061 kidnappings particularly in the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Additionally, SAPS have identified a possible link between human trafficking and missing persons in the country, however, further investigation is required.
Regional context and victim demographics
Over the years, human trafficking has evolved into a broader regional concern. Girls and women are overly affected by human trafficking in Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 34 percent and 28 percent of detected victims respectively as of 2020. This trend extends to Southern Africa, where 61 percent of sex-trafficking victims between 2003 and 2023 were women and 23 percent of victims aged 30–38 years, which accentuates the gendered nature of human trafficking in the region. Traffickers primarily target those from disadvantaged backgrounds and often lure unsuspecting victims through fake job advertisements for domestic work, mining, hospitality, and modeling.
Continental perspective and neighboring nations
Within the African continent, the severity of human trafficking varies significantly. Modern-day slavery is particularly rife in Nigeria, with an estimated 1.6 million people living as modern slaves. Human trafficking often leads to modern-day slavery as individuals are exploited and unable to leave due to threats, coercion or violence. In East Africa, Eritrea is one of three countries in the region classified as tier three, indicating the most severe level of human trafficking concerns. The prevalence of child sex trafficking in East Africa is particularly alarming, with 31 percent of sex-trafficking victims being minors. This continental overview highlights the complex and widespread nature of human trafficking across Africa, emphasizing the need for coordinated governmental efforts to address this critical issue.
