Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

Juxtaposing human rights and human trafficking in South Africa

15 March 2021 | Story Prof Beatri Kruger | Photo Anja Aucamp

Prof Kruger web read more — Prof Beatri Kruger is a research fellow in the Free State Centre for Human Right at the UFS.

John Miller from the United States Office to Monitor Trafficking in Persons calls human trafficking: "The greatest human rights challenge of our generation."

But is this really the current position in South Africa? Let us do a reality check. New evidence-based insights were gained from convictions in several adult, as well as 25 child trafficking cases.

In 2011, Roelofs penned a picture of (sex) trafficking:

"It is a product of an increasing sex obsessed world with billions of dollars being earned from pornographic magazines, television channels and prostitution all because of slumping morality. It is obviously a very lucrative business. Whereas drugs and other narcotic substances can be used only once; a girl used as a sex slave can be sold over and over. This is the tragedy of this cruel exploitation of the vulnerable in our societies."

Exploitation of the vulnerable for financial gain

In 2019, in S v Ediozi Obi (case no CC40/2018), judge Natvarlal Ranchod referred to the above quote and concluded: “This is tragically illustrated in this matter before me …” In this case, several victims were vulnerable young children. They were trafficked, groomed, and repeatedly raped. “They were prostituted for accused 1's financial benefit. It is a sad indictment of certain members of the police force who were expected to bring perpetrators to book but instead, exploited the situation to their own advantage by taking bribes and themselves taking advantage of the young victims. This is some of the evidence that came out in this trial.”

In 2017 in S v Adina Dos Santos, the trafficker was sentenced to life imprisonment, which was confirmed on appeal. The evidence was that the trafficker promised minor Mozambican girls work in her hair salon in South Africa and an opportunity to study while working there. The girls, who were looking for a better life, were eventually threatened and forced to use narcotic drugs and then have sexual intercourse with several men daily. Recently, two female traffickers were sentenced to 19 life sentences in S v Seleso for sexually exploiting a minor girl online by advertising her sexual services to clients on a website.

A multitude of human rights are being violated in human trafficking scenarios. It ranges from violating the right to dignity, privacy, and life, to the right to be free from all forms of violence and not to be treated in a cruel, inhuman, or degrading way. – Prof Beatri Kruger

The trafficking convictions further confirmed that, apart from sex trafficking, victims are also trafficked for other purposes in South Africa. Children as young as eight were trafficked from Mozambique and Nigeria to be exploited for labour purposes. The cases further confirmed that traffickers use an aberrant form of the ukuthwala custom as a guise to traffic minor girls into forced marriages. Furthermore, children were kidnapped and sold. A young mother even advertised her baby on Gumtree for R5 000.

Multitude of human rights are violated in human trafficking

This is a snapshot from our case law. Despite the culture of human rights enshrined in our constitution, it is clear that a multitude of human rights are being violated in human trafficking scenarios. It ranges from violating the right to dignity, privacy, and life, to the right to be free from all forms of violence and not to be treated in a cruel, inhuman, or degrading way. Judge Ranchod rightly declared in S v Obi that human trafficking violates basic human rights and is the cause of immeasurable trauma for victims, their families, and the communities in which they live. Protecting trafficked persons and their human rights is crucial – we have a great task ahead.

News Archive

Always good to be honoured at home, says Justice Richard Goldstone

2012-02-06

Justice Richard Goldstone received an honorary doctorate from the university on 3 February 2012.
Photo: Duard Grobbelaar

Dumela article (pdf document)
Justice Richard Goldstone's - acceptance speech (pdf document)
Mail & Guardian article (pdf document)

The University of the Free State (UFS) is determined to make a success of its academic and human projects, and is not prepared to compromise on standards in the process.

This was the message of Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, at our universities official opening on Friday 3 February 2012. These projects, said Prof. Jansen, are the foundation of the institution.

The official opening coincided with an honorary doctorate in Law conferred on Justice Richard Goldstone.

The UFS has enrolled the “smartest and most diverse class since 1904,” Prof. Jansen said.
Top learners with six A’s, and more learners from top schools inside and outside South Africa, have made the UFS their university of choice. “We are determined that the best students must study at Kovsies.”

Prof. Jansen also referred to learners in the school system who sit and wait while teachers fight amongst themselves at the education departments. “What are we going to do with those students?” The UFS provides an opportunity for these students to enter higher education with its University Preparation Programme on its South Campus in Bloemfontein. “The fastest growth at our university is on this campus. It is set aside for children who cannot be taken up in the mainstream.”

Some of the students who were part of this programme are doctors, lawyers and teachers today.

“We set a high standard in our academic project to make sure our students are the best available.”

In its Schools Project, the UFS has 23 schools under its wing and the net is broadening. Pass rates in these schools improved dramatically; in some from 13% to 100% in one year.

The human project sets standards for good behaviour. “I was astounded to see how young people get together to find other people as human beings,” Jansen said. “I have enormous hope for this country.

Some of the other projects he mentioned were the provision of more space for students to study, a refocus on the Qwaqwa Campus in the Eastern Free State, the placement of new academics, and agreements with universities abroad on the placement of young scholars.

After receiving his honorary doctorate, Justice Goldstone congratulated the university on the fact that transformation did not lead to standards being compromised.

“The university now takes its place as a leading university on our continent. The leaders of the university can hold their heads up high about their achievements.”

Judge Goldstone, the bearer of 26 honorary doctorates from various countries around the world, said: “It is always good to be honored at home”.

The official opening was attended by staff, students, guests and community leaders.

Media Release
3 February 2012
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept