Not much can be done about prostitution because of the big market for sex, but there’s a big concern for human trafficking, say crime experts. Three Thai women were rescued from a house in Garsfontein last week after one escaped and fled to the Royal Thai Embassy in Hatfield, Pretoria, to call for help. Police spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said three suspects were arrested after the three victims were rescued.
“It is reported that information was received when one of the victims managed to escape from her captors. She then reported to the Thai Embassy that she had been held against her will for sexual exploitation. This prompted the involvement of law enforcement and social services.”“Two more victims were rescued after members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation assisted by Tshwane Metro Police Department K9 and SA Police Service Pretoria K9 gained access to the premises,” she said.
Barkhuizen said it was easy for these organised groups to traffic people into and out of South Africa through SA’s borders, open air and port systems. “Usually, the traffickers have details of their families and they fear that something may happen to their families, which weighs heavily on their conscience,” he said.“We need to distinguish between prostitution and