BIANCA CAPAZORIO —

Although the Department of Home Affairs claimed new visa regulations were needed to protect tens of thousands of children who were trafficked in South Africa, it now appears it was a gross exaggeration.

Home Affairs has for some time quoted a figure of 30,000 children being trafficked in or through South Africa annually to justify the draconian new visa regulations, which have the tourism industry up in arms.

The reality is that only 23 cases of child-trafficking have been uncovered in the past three years.

Most recently, Home Affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni told parliament’s portfolio committee on Home Affairs that “it is estimated that 30,000 minors are trafficked through RSA borders every year and 50% of these minors are under 14 years”.

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