Twenty-three South Africans who were held captive in Myanmar after they were lured to Thailand under false pretenses of lucrative jobs, have been rescued and safely arrived home today.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has confirmed that the 23, form part of 7 000 other individuals from various countries.
DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said that the department facilitated the repatriation of the victims and provided financial assistance.
“Before leaving South Africa last year, these men and women were enticed to the Kingdom of Thailand under false pretences by an employment agency that promised them lucrative jobs that were advertised on various social media platforms.
These adverts promised the victims good salaries, free accommodation, comprehensive travel expenses and other lucrative benefits.
Once in Thailand, they were transported to Myanmar against their will,” said Phiri.
Furthermore, Phiri said the victims were subjected to torture, threatened and forced to perform unpaid labour.
“The victims were held captive for more than four months in a cybercrime compound in Myanmar, which borders Thailand.
They were subjected to brutal treatment, including intimidation, physical torture and forced labour.
They were forced to work for 16 hours a day and were frequently beaten or tortured if they refused, and they survived on spoiled food and contaminated water without access to medical treatment.
They were also compelled to engage in illicit activities, including online scams that targeted individuals worldwide,” remarked Phiri.
According to the department, the repatriation was part of the bilateral cooperation agreement to combat human trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime signed by the Kingdom of the Republic of Thailand and South Africa in 2023.
Phiri said the matter has been handed over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) or the Hawks, and follow-up appointments will be scheduled at a later stage with the victims to gather comprehensive statements, as their emotional and physical well-being must be taken into consideration.
“The DPCI will continue to work with all the relevant government departments to ensure the safety and well-being of the victims, as well as the successful arrest and conviction of traffickers in South Africa,” explained Phiri.
The department has urged citizens to exercise extreme caution when considering employment opportunities abroad.
“Unscrupulous human traffickers keep changing and improving their methods in efforts to defeat efforts by law-enforcement agencies.
These criminal syndicates are highly organised and can be very good at identifying and recruiting potential victims,” warned Phiri.
