While excitement is at a fever pitch ahead of the Soccer World Cup in South Africa, major concerns have been raised that the event will be used for human trafficking.
Estimates are that trafficking gangs may entrap and enslave between 40,000 to 100,000 people using the World Cup as a front. In a recent ‘Time’ magazine investigation into human trafficking, they found a thriving trade in child sex near sports stadiums. One trafficker said, “I’m really looking forward to doing more business during the World Cup.”
It is said that child sex slaves can earn anything from $45 to $600 in one night for their captors.
This issue has raised concerns at the highest levels with President Zuma warning parents to carefully guard their children during the month-long World Cup. At the launch of the Child Protection Week and the Children’s Act, Zuma stated: “While we are excited that we'll be receiving visitors for the FIFA World Cup we must be mindful that an event of this magnitude opens opportunity for criminals with ill intentions of trafficking in women and children.”
Due to the fact that South African schools are closed for the duration of the World Cup, Zuma went on to say that, "Not all parents and care-givers will be able to align their vacation with that of the extended school vacation. We urge parents to take extra care and ensure that their children are supervised and provided with guidance at all times. Children wandering alone in shopping malls and football stadiums will be vulnerable to people with evil intentions."
South Africa’s own concerns for the safety of their children meant they have fast-tracked a new law against human trafficking in time for the World Cup, which enables easier prosecution of suspects and also grants South African court’s jurisdiction over acts outside the country’s borders.
"We will play our part as government but parents and care-givers also have to be vigilant," Zuma warned.
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