Human trafficking and slavery in the 21st century is not a danger encountered only in faraway cities. It is here in our city, and in towns and cities accross the country.
According to A21 Campaign, a global non-profit, non-governmental organisation that works to fight human trafficking, 47,5% of victims are recruited through false job opportunities.
The first-ever Walk for Freedom in Bloemfontein, which will take place in conjunction with other events of this kind all over the world on Saturday, 19 October, will have the Loch Logan Waterfront as the starting point.
One of the local organisers of the Walk for Freedom, Cindy Postman of the Reign Church, organised a similar walk in Colesberg.
“The walk aims to warn young people getting into all kinds of situations when they believe the wrong individuals who promise them job opportunities or accommodation,” said Postman.
She has referred to various instances, one of these being that of three young men, then aged between 21 and 22, from Colesberg who was lured to Cape Town by a “recruiter” and ended up being forced into hard labour while staying in crude, unhealthy accommodation. When they wanted to leave, they were ordered to pay back money that they did not have.
Fortunately for these boys, a parent raised alarm and a man was later arrested and found guilty in the Wynberg Regional Court for recruiting the victims into forced labour.
Postman said young people are desperate and they want to believe offers of jobs and a brigther future.
“But they and their parents must firstly vet the offer and not take anything for granted.”
The free A21 hotline, 0800-222-777 can assist anyone to vet companies, modelling agencies and sport groups to curb recruiting through false employment opportunities.
The Walk for Freedom is organised by the A21 hotline and the SAPS, while the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, and the University of the Free State (UFS) were also included in making arrangements for the event in Bloemfontein.
The walk will be a silent, single file walk. Participants will be clothed in black. It will start at 09:00 at the food court in Loch Logan.
Registration will take place before the walk on 19 October, from 07:00, but participants can also register on 5 and 12 October at the food court and fill out the disclaimer.
Contact Postman on 081-085-3398 for more information.
