Deputy Minister warns: 'Human trafficking is a scourge we must confront' amid Russian job scam

The Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Andries Nel, has cautioned individuals against applying for unverified job opportunities overseas as the Russian job scams remain a hot topic. 

This comes after influencers, such as social media star and DJ Cyan Boujee, travelled to Russia for a paid influencer campaign and shared a video documenting the trip over the weekend. Her content highlighted aspects of Alabuga’s operations.

​According to the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, in October 2024, the Associated Press reported that women from Africa, largely Central and East African countries, were recruited via social media to work in a factory in Russia assembling drones to be launched in Ukraine.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Nel raised grave concerns around the ‘opportunities’ targeting young South African women with promises of lucrative employment in Russia. 

He said these so-called opportunities, often promoted through informal online channels and social media, have been linked to serious risks of labour exploitation and human trafficking. 

Human trafficking is a heinous crime that strips people of their dignity and fundamental rights. Trafficking in persons can include sex trafficking, labour trafficking, child trafficking, illegal adoption, exploitation in armed conflicts, organ trafficking, forced marriage, debt bondage and forced criminality.

“Many traffickers will lure their victims by way of false advertisements for jobs or by creating the impression that they are legitimately recruiting staff.  A recent example is the case of 23 South Africans who were rescued and repatriated from Myanmar in March this year. Before leaving South Africa in 2024, they were lured to the Kingdom of Thailand under false pretences by an employment agency that promised them lucrative jobs that were advertised on various social media platforms,” Nel said. 

He said these adverts promised the victims good salaries, free accommodation, comprehensive travel expenses and other lucrative benefits. 

However, once in Thailand, the victims were transported to Myanmar against their will and held captive for more than four months in a cybercrime compound. They were subjected to brutal treatment, intimidation, physical torture and forced labour. They were also compelled to engage in illicit activities, including online scams that targeted individuals worldwide.

“Let me be clear: these offers are not endorsed by the Government of South Africa. Never rely solely on social media promotions or unsolicited social media advertisements, always cross-check and verify job opportunities through official channels,” Nel said. 

He said the South African government condemns these practices unequivocally and reaffirms its determination to protect citizens, especially women and young people, from exploitation, both at home and abroad. 

Young job seekers are urged to treat unsolicited job offers with extreme caution and should note that if an opportunity appears to be too good to be true, it probably is. 

Job seekers are also urged to verify the authenticity of any international job offer before accepting it through these departments:

• The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO)
• The Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL)
• The Department of Home Affairs (DHA)
• The South African Police Service (SAPS)

Job seekers are also urged to enquire from the country where the employment is offered what the legal travel and legal working requirements are in respect of that country. 

Trafficking in persons is a reality, with South Africa being regarded as a source, transit and destination country for trafficking in persons. Recent data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) documented a 25% global increase in detected trafficking victims, with children accounting for 38%.

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development said its working with the National Intersectoral Committee on Trafficking in Persons (NICTIP), provincial task teams, and rapid response units established under the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2013 (Act 7 of 2013), to continue to strengthen South Africa’s collective response to trafficking in persons. 

The Deputy Minister said the department’s work includes enhancing investigations and prosecutions of trafficking offences, building cross-border partnerships with international counterparts, and expanding public awareness campaigns to alert communities to the methods used by traffickers.

“We are also mindful of the desperation created by high levels of youth unemployment, particularly among young women. These vulnerabilities must not be exploited. Government remains committed to creating safe and sustainable employment pathways through initiatives such as the Presidential Employment Stimulus, the National Youth Service, and skills development programmes. 

“We call upon all sectors of society - government, civil society, business, and communities - to work together to protect our youth from predators who seek to profit from their hopes and dreams. The safety, dignity and futures of our young people are not for sale. Human trafficking is a scourge that we must confront with unity, vigilance, and unshakable resolve,” Nel said.

Any suspicious activity can be reported immediately to the SAPS Crime Stop hotline at 08000 10111, and the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 0800 222 777. 

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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