Johannesburg - A new helpline which aims to eradicate human trafficking in the country and provide support to victims has been launched.
The South African National Human Trafficking Resource Line (NHTRL) and website was started by the A21 Campaign, a non-profit organisation which fights human trafficking.
“The national line takes calls 24/7 and can assist callers from all provinces,” said A21 spokeswoman Rene Hanekom in a statement on Tuesday.
“Tip-offs and requests can also be submitted online via the website, making the resource line multimodal to increase accessibility.”
Trained call operators would follow international procedures to ensure each case received the fastest possible response.
“The resource line works in close partnership with many stakeholders to ensure rapid response and effectiveness.”
The resource line would be a tool for the government, civil society groups and ordinary citizens to report suspected trafficking, receive assistance as well as guidance on all matters relating to human trafficking.
Anyone wanting to report suspected trafficking or submit a tip-off could also complete an online form.
Human trafficking, also described as modern-day slavery, is the illegal trade of people for forced labour and sexual exploitation.
Hanekom said human trafficking was the fastest-growing crime in the world, generating $150 billion (R2.18 trillion) a year. She said it was hard to pin down reliable statistics for human trafficking as, before 2013, all cases of trafficking were subsumed under other crimes, such as rape, kidnapping or organised crime.
“The 2016 Global Slavery Index estimates 248 700 people or 0.45 percent of the total population live in conditions of modern slavery in South Africa,” Hanekom said.
The resource line's website, www.0800222777.org.za, states that South Africa is a source, transit and destination country for victims of trafficking.
The NHTRL website warns that the main approaches traffickers used to lure victims include fake job offers, mainly for jobs abroad, and fake courtships.
“The internet, especially social networking sites, is the most-used tool by traffickers for research and selection of potential victims,” it says.
In the book Exit!, released earlier this year, Grizelda Grootboom, 35, revealed shocking details of the abuse she suffered after being trafficked as an 18-year-old streetchild.
Grootboom was lured to Joburg from Cape Town by the prospect of a better life.
She is now a human-trafficking activist. The NHTRL can be reached on 0800 222 777.
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