Social Development
With regard to recent reports of human trafficking in South Africa:
(1) Are there (a) resources and (b) programmes available to assist victims of human trafficking; if not, why not; if so; what are the relevant details;
(2) where can these programmes be accessed;
(3) how much of the Department of Social Development’s budget is dedicated to these programmes?
(1) The Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act (PACOTIP Act) of 2013, indicates that the Department of Social Development is responsible for the care and support of victims of human trafficking. Section 18 & 19 of the PACOTIP act first guides that all suspicions of human trafficking activities must be reported to SAPS, and then SAPS will activate a social worker to do an assessment to determine if there are elements of human trafficking.
Shelters accredited according to section 26 of the PACOTIP act provide safe accommodation, therapeutic services, skills development, and assist with the reintegration of the trafficking survivor.
(2) The SAPS will refer the suspected human trafficking victim to the appropriate service providers. The National Human Trafficking hotline is a further resource, to assist with initial screening for human trafficking elements - the number is 0800222777
Social Workers are also trained to identify elements of human trafficking and will be able to activate appropriate services.
(3) The Victim Empowerment Programme funds accredited shelter services for adult human trafficking victims and their dependents, as well as a dedicated service organisation to assist with the screening of suspected human trafficking victims.
For the period 2022/2023 R1 386 352 has been allocated to the abovementioned services.
