South Africans trapped in Thailand: The human trafficking crisis
Image: GCIS
Close to 200 South Africans are currently stranded in Thailand, having fallen victim to a human trafficking scheme.
They were lured by the promise of well-paying jobs, advertised through social media and word-of-mouth. This criminal operation is allegedly orchestrated by a Chinese mafia network.
The job scams target young South Africans who are fluent in English, computer literate, and have marketing or IT qualifications. They are promised good salaries, free accommodation, comprehensive travel expenses, and other lucrative benefits. When victims/ targets accept the offer, they are given a one-way ticket to Thailand before being trafficked to Myanmar and forced to work in illegal online scamming compounds operated by Chinese mafia networks.
Emma van der Walt, founder and chief executive of Brave to Love SA, a counter-human trafficking NGO, stated that her organisation worked alongside the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), Hawks, the Department of Social Development, the Department of Home Affairs & Immigration Services, and Interpol to bring back the human trafficking victims.
The South Africans stuck in Thailand were rescued from Myanmar, at the same time as the group of 23 human trafficking victims, repatriated to the country in March 2025. However, the large group remains in Southeast Asia because they don't have the means to purchase plane tickets.
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They were subjected to brutal treatment, including intimidation, physical torture, and forced labour, working for 16 hours a day. They were also compelled to engage in illicit activities, including online scams that targeted individuals worldwide. They were frequently beaten or tortured if they refused. They survived on spoiled food and contaminated water without access to medical treatment.
In March, the South African government said a ransom of approximately R50,000 was demanded for their release.
The online scams where South Africans were forced to work are also known as 'pig butchering scams,' in which victims are cultivated online and eventually fleeced of their assets.
Van der Walt, in choosing the first 23, Brave To Love prioritised the most vulnerable individuals in the group, and was followed by three more for whom the organisation managed to raise plane tickets. To date, 26 South African victims who were trafficked to the illegal scamming compounds bordering Thailand and Myanmar have been safely repatriated.
She described this as one of the most complex international rescue operations that Brave to Love has successfully assisted in to date.
'Recruiters continue to lure vulnerable young people from South Africa with promises of remote work, marketing roles, or IT positions; only for them to end up enslaved by organised criminal syndicates.
'These operations are well-coordinated and run by transnational networks. They prey on economic desperation and false hope. The need for awareness, prevention, and international cooperation has never been more urgent,' van der Walt said.
She said this is a growing crisis. 'Despite these rescues, we are gravely concerned. We estimate that over 200 South Africans remain trapped in similar scamming compounds across Myanmar.'
Her organisation is raising funds to bring back home the remaining group and remains committed to the rescue and restoration of every South African still trapped abroad.
'Recruiters continue to lure vulnerable young people from South Africa with promises of remote work, marketing roles, or IT positions; only for them to end up enslaved by organised criminal syndicates.
'These operations are well-coordinated and run by transnational networks. They prey on economic desperation and false hope. The need for awareness, prevention, and international cooperation has never been more urgent,' van der Walt said.
She said this is a growing crisis. 'Despite these rescues, we are gravely concerned. We estimate that over 200 South Africans remain trapped in similar scamming compounds across Myanmar.'
Her organisation is raising funds to bring back home the remaining group and remains committed to the rescue and restoration of every South African still trapped abroad.
Clayson Manyela, Head of Public Diplomacy at Dirco, previously explained that consular assistance offered by the government through embassies is non-financial.
He stated that financial matters are covered by individuals travelling or their families, and that the government only gets involved when individuals are destitute and literally have nothing.
Monyela stated that South Africans planning to travel to any country, for leisure, business, studies, or work, should get travel insurance. He added that it helps when one runs out of money and needs to travel back.
He urged South Africans to find the nearest South African Embassy or Consulate in the country they are going to, and share their details with them. It helps Dirco to locate them and offer consular assistance when they are in distress.
gcwalisile.khanyile@inl.co.za
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