A former human trafficker and reformed drug addict has told members of the Geluksdal community, Ekurhuleni, of her former job as a recruiter of young girls on behalf of an alleged Nigerian syndicate.

Speaking during a human trafficking awareness campaign organised by the Gauteng Legislature on Thursday, the young mother, who did not want to be named, told members of the community gathered at the Geluksdal Community Hall how she used to recruit young girls for her Nigerian syndicate and former boyfriend until recently, adding that her drug addiction at a young age drove her towards a life of prostitution.

She revealed that her former Nigerian boyfriend would give her money so she could go out in Kempton Park and other parts of Johannesburg in search of young innocent girls, whose addictions made them vulnerable to her advances.

She revealed that once they were hooked, these young women would be prostituted and given drugs as payment.

"For more than five years since I was 19 years old, I worked. I even recruited young girls in Cape Town, whereafter, realising that this work is dangerous, I decided to call it quits and travelled back from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Our target was mostly young girls who were hooked on cheap drugs. We would promise them better drugs and other things to get them on our side," the mother of two said.

As a mother, she said over time, she decided to quit this dangerous game as she had had enough of this rebellious life.

"I lived a rebellious life and as a mother, over time, I realised that this is not the life I wanted for myself and my children. I have been two years clean now and was recently united with my daughter, which is still work in progress, and am glad that after 12 years of this life, I am now two years sober and clean," she added.

Some members of the community revealed that human trafficking in the area is rife, with young girls constantly going missing, while scores of others fall into the trap of using drugs and alcohol, which make them more vulnerable to sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Ali Gule, a community leader, told a story of how his niece was abducted and human trafficked a few years ago, revealing that the family is not coping with the loss.

"As parents, we are not talking enough to our kids about this crime. It is an open secret that these syndicates use other girls to steal and traffic our girl children. My community network goes to high schools around the area to create awareness because kids hide their whereabouts and when in trouble, they contact us.

"I am doing this because my family is also a victim of human trafficking after my sister's child was abducted a few years ago. To this day, we do not know where she is. We have reached out to the police and tried everything, and the family does not cope, especially on her birthday," Gule said.

Portia Brink, a mother and activist, also recalled her daughter's near-escape, saying while her daughter was out to buy a Kota in the area, she was nearly trafficked and abducted after a car suddenly stopped on the street and men came out of the car in an attempt to abduct her.

"I do not know what would have happened had my daughter not survived the attempt. I still ask myself because it could have been any other child. She could not speak after this incident. All I heard as she was running were her screams and heavy footsteps as she was fleeing.

"What surprised me the most is the behaviour and attitude of the police when we went to report the matter. The police demanded that we give them the number plate of the car. How was she supposed to know the number plates in such a state?" she said.

Bishop Dulton Adams, speaking as the chairperson of the committees under the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, has vowed to use his voice and that of the provincial government to fight this scourge through a march and more campaigns across the province.

"There are four Ps of human trafficking which we need to activate in order to deal with this issue. One of the Ps is partnerships. We must strengthen partnerships as this would be a bad indictment if we do not continue this movement. We must move together to put an end to this scourge, and we will do this by organising one of the biggest pushback marches where all of us will send a clear message to these perpetrators that your days are numbered," he stated.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

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