“Human trafficking is the exploitation of vulnerable people for their bodies and labour,” according to anti-human trafficking organisation A21’s website. PHOTOS: Jean-Marie Uys
A group of 57 people in Stellenbosch recently joined A21’s annual Walk For Freedom to raise awareness of modern-day slavery, according to Carli van Wyk, main coordinator of the Walk For Freedom in Stellenbosch.
The walk, which took place on 15 October, started at the Coetzenburg Centre and ended at Stellenbosch Town Hall.
The A21 Walk For Freedom is an annual global awareness event (across 72 countries) where participants silently walk in single file, stated Van Wyk. It was the first time that this event was also held in Stellenbosch.
“The idea of walking with partners across the globe is [to] stand in solidarity [with victims of human trafficking],” said Van Wyk.
“It is something that people aren’t aware of and it really is happening under our noses,” said Liechen Strydom, founder of Liberation Legal Consulting, a firm assessing the risks of modern slavery in business operations and supply chains.
A21 is a global non-governmental organisation (NGO) aimed at abolishing human trafficking – from forced labour and marriage, to child soldiers and domestic servitude, according to the organisation’s website.
“There are millions of people still trapped in slavery today – be it by human trafficking or forced labour. And I am so glad that we have people here, standing together, across the globe, against this very important issue,” said Carli Van Wyk, the main coordinator of the recent A21 Walk For Freedom in Stellenbosch.
Pictured above from the left is Armand van Wyk, a marshal and volunteer, Embeth du Toit, co-organiser, and Carli van Wyk, the main coordinator of the event. PHOTO: Jean-Marie Uys
Slavery in SA not buried in the past
“In South Africa, where the economic situation is dire, people take any job opportunities without making sure whether it’s a trap [for] forced labour or trafficking,” said Van Wyk.
The 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report for South Africa states that ongoing investigations and prosecutions involve 426 trafficking survivors (including previously identified persons), compared to 226 trafficking survivors in 2020.
However, some NGOs mentioned in the report that the above statistics do not accurately reflect the scope of trafficking in SA. This is largely ascribed to institutional problems prohibiting the government from identifying victims, according to the report.
“[Trafficking] is so hidden. If we’re not aware of what the red flags are, we won’t necessarily pick it up,” said Strydom.
According to the Global Slavery Index, an estimate of 155 000 people in SA are modern slaves. Forced marriages and labour are the most prevalent forms of trafficking in SA, as stated by the International Labour Organisation.
The eighth annual A21 Walk For Freedom took place in Stellenbosch for the first time on 15 October, according to Carli van Wyk, main coordinator of the A21 Walk For Freedom in Stellenbosch. At the beginning and end of the walk, co-organiser Embeth du Toit read from the A21 Walk For Freedom declaration. VIDEO: Jean-Marie Uys
‘We all have different roles to play’
Knowing that people are still trapped in these hopeless situations motivated Anna-Mart Schutte, a participant in the walk, to raise awareness about human trafficking. She hopes that, by walking, victims will see that there are people across the world who recognise their struggle and offer support, she said.
“Doing something like this shows that you’re not [pretending to] know how [victims of trafficking] feel, but that you’re showing up to make awareness of their situation,” said Kelly Lucas, another participant in the Walk for Freedom.
“We all have different roles to play,” said Van Wyk. “Some of us are fighting at the door, fighting for legislative changes to be made, and some of us can just come and walk.”
Also read: Student-led organisations join in the fight against human trafficking