South Africa: human trafficking tier ranking 2023

South Africa's ongoing struggle with human trafficking remains evident as the country maintains its position on the tier two level watch list for the third consecutive year in 2023.  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. 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 stands out as the only country 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.

Human trafficking in South Africa from 2015 to 2023, by tier ranking

Characteristic	Tier ranking (1-3)
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Release date

September 2023

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Region

South Africa

Survey time period

June 2023

Supplementary notes

* 2.5 refers to Tier 2 watch-list.

Human trafficking involves hiding, transporting, recruiting or obtaining an individual for purposes of labor or services, whereby the individual is coerced or forced into carrying out labor for another's benefit, which may constitute as slavery. The definition also includes those who are trafficked for sex and persons under the age of 18 years, The victim does not need to be physically moved from one place to another for the crime to fall within the scope of this definition.

Tier 3: countries or territories whose government do not act in accordance with the minimum standards and are no making enough effort to comply with the set standards by USAID.

Tier 2 watch list/Tier 2.5: countries or territories whose government do not fully meet the minimum standards, but are no making enough effort to achieve the set standard.

Tier 2: countries or territories whose government does not fully comply with the minimum set standards but are making a substantial effort to reach them.

Tier 1: countries or territories whose government fully comply with the minimum set standards to eliminate human trafficking.

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