Click here to listen to the mp3 advert for The Salvation Army's anti-human trafficking message

Click here to watch the footage taken by News24 at the Long Walk for Rhino's Mandela Day initiative at Robben Island School. (QVC donated Media Liaison to this initiative as part of its Mandela Day initiatives)

 Quo Vadis Communications on a field trip to KwaZulu Natal for client, Siyazisiza Trust.

Victoria Makalima, assistant Director for the Johnson and Johnson Burn Treatment Centre (left) and Roger Crawford, Executive Director, Worldwide Government Affairs and Policy for Johnson & Johnson (back right) happily assisted Nurse Ester Manson and clinical officer William Kalua from Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi throughout their two-week specialised training session at the Burn Treatment Centre at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. The training took place as a result of a public private partnership between the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johnson & Johnson, and the University of North Carolina in USA. The hospital in Malawi recently opened a burn unit and the hands-on training Ester and William received at the leading burn treatment centre in Africa, will no doubt make a huge difference in the lives of those in need.

Major Marieke Venter, The Salvation Army’s divisional director for women’s affairs, said it is very important to continue raising awareness on human trafficking even though the FIFA 2010 World has come and gone.

“Human trafficking existed before the FIFA 2010 World Cup, it occurred during the World Cup and it is still going to be there after the World Cup.

“What we need now is the government to speed up the enactment of the Trafficking in Persons Bill. Lack of legislation in South Africa is a big challenge we face in the fight against human trafficking,” Venter said.

She pointed out that Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia already have anti-human trafficking laws, and that South Africa is lagging behind its neighbours in this respect.

The Salvation Army is at the forefront of an anti-human trafficking campaign in South Africa and beyond. Part of the campaign is a 24-hour toll free hotline number 08000 RESCU (08-000-73728) sponsored by Be Heard™.  Launched in January, the toll free hotline is a platform for anyone with tip-offs on all suspected human trafficking cases to report them to The Salvation Army.

“There has been a steady number of calls to the call centre, with a marked increase in calls during the World Cup. This does not necessarily indicate that there was more human trafficking during this time, but it seems to indicate that there was an increase in public awareness of the issue, and a willingness to report suspected cases.

Gauteng recorded the highest number of calls, followed by KwaZulu-Natal. Some anonymous calls have not contained enough detail to enable a thorough investigation, whilst others are being investigated,” Venter added.

Recognising that the fight against human trafficking is closely linked to the fight for social justice, The Salvation Army will continue to address the underlying issues rooted in poverty, unemployment, gender inequality and inadequate education.

In cooperation with other agencies, The Salvation Army acknowledges its Christian responsibility to be actively engaged in the prevention of human trafficking, the protection of the victims (especially women and children) and the lawful prosecution of the perpetrators.

ENDS

Last changed: Oct 04 2010 at 10:27 AM