| Human Trafficking Campaign evoke emotions | |
|---|---|
| Date Published: | 2015/07/30 |
| Description Details: | |
Media Statement from Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation (HAWKS) Pretoria – Resounding singing of the anti-human trafficking songs, piercing sirens from the uniquely branded Hawks operation vehicles and the unambiguous messages inscribed on the placards brought life at the Sunnyside Central Business District to a complete halt on Thursday morning. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), affectionately referred to as the Hawks, the Department of Social Development, The City of Tshwane in conjunction with the South African Police Service joined into a march which preceded the Anti-Human Trafficking Campaign in Sunnyside, Pretoria. The campaign kicked off an a sombre mood with Esihle Qayiso, a Language Practice student at the Tshwane University of Technology, rendering a touchy poem which depicted the hardships which victims of human trafficking face on a daily basis. During her address the Deputy Director of the Victim Empowerment Programme at the Department of Social Development Ms Myrtle Morris challenged all the stakeholders to intensify their programmes aimed at preventing human trafficking. She said although the Social Department has five accredited shelter for victims of gender-based violence and human trafficking, a lot still needed to be done to cater for the victims. “We are the only province with the shelter for male victims of human trafficking and related crimes, but the influx of victims of Asian origin has prompted the department to provide additional funding to meet their unique diet, clothing and medical care”, said Morris before challenging all concerned entities to be part of the Human Trafficking Task Team, which she said her department was part of. The campaign took another turn when the National Champion of Human Trafficking within the DPCI Major General Liziwe Ntshinga ascended the podium and spoke from the heart. She issued a stern warning that when law enforcement hit the streets to advocate against human trafficking, perpetrators were busy planning their next modus operandi and that their abilities to strategize were not to be undermined. “Traffickers are everywhere; some might even be among us here to spy on our operational plan, so let us be vigilant. The social media has rapidly become a fishing-dam for traffickers so make use of these social platforms responsibly and carefully. One other form of human trafficking that gets into my nerves is the so-called ukuthwala, especially in the Eastern Cape Province. Ukuthwala is human trafficking, it is a crime and it must be brought to a stop”, an emotional Ntshinga said to a huge applause from those in attendance. Speaking on behalf of the Acting Head of DPCI, the Head of Serious Corruption Investigation Major General Zinhle Mnonopi said human trafficking has been on a downward slope from the 2013/2014 financial year but was quick to reiterate the Hawks’ stance on this criminal act. “Recently the police rescued four Thai women from a brothel in Brooklyn and arrested two Chinese nationals for the crime. This shows that we mean business and no stone will be left unturned in our quest to free all human trafficking victims and all corrupt officials within our ranks and in other sister departments will not be spared as we up our game to rid our country of corruption and all sorts of social ills by government employees”, Mnonopi concluded. The Tshwane University of Technology students provided entertainment with their drama titled ‘Qaphela’. Media enquiries: Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi 082 373 2408
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService | |
| Additional content: | |
| Attachments: | |