Urgent petition demands influencers act responsibly in light of human trafficking claims
A Change.org petition has accused social media influencers of irresponsibly promoting travel schemes that left young women vulnerable to human trafficking networks.
“There are innocent girls out there who, unaware of the danger, have fallen prey to human trafficking schemes promoted irresponsibly by influencers,” it warned.
Those who created the petition claim that trips to Russia, advertised as opportunities for a better life, were in fact lures set by traffickers.
In a video promoting the Alabuga Start Programme Cyan Boujee, whose real name is Honour Zuma encouraged young women to apply. Peachy Sprinkles (Siyamthanda Anita), Ghost Hlubi (Khanya Hlubi), Seemah (Sima Mangolwane), and Zillewizzy (Khathutshelo Netshitomboni) also promoted the programme.
In response to the backlash, Zuma issued a statement in a video of her own.
“I’ve been quiet because I’ve been waiting for the programme to release a statement on my behalf, but it seems they are wasting my time. Human trafficking is a serious matter, and I do not stand with that, and I believe this is a huge learning curve for me and the other influencers,” she said.
Additionally, Siyamthanda Anita explained her shortcomings when dealing with the programme’s promotion. “A few months ago, the marketing team from the start programme in Russia reached out to me with intentions of a potential collaboration, saying that they are offering job opportunities to young South African individuals, and they would like us creators to put it out there.
“Naturally, obviously, you do your research. I didn’t do extensive research, which might reflect as negligence on my end. I deeply apologise for that,” she said.
The petition, which has gained close to 40,000 signatures, is calling for influencers to go beyond issuing statements of regret.
“Their apologies ring hollow when they should be actively taking steps to rectify the damage, they’ve indirectly inflicted.” Petitioners insist that those with large online followings must use their platforms more responsibly, demanding accountability and concrete interventions.
Amid the controversy, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities expressed alarm at reports of alleged overseas job opportunities being circulated on social media and targeting South African women aged 18 to 22.
The department stressed that the advertisements, which claim to offer work placements in Russia, are not endorsed by the South African government.
“Although we recognise that South Africa faces unacceptably high youth unemployment, especially among young women, this harsh reality must never be exploited through false job offers,” spokesperson Cassius Selala said.
He emphasised that legitimate international job placements facilitated by the state are arranged only through diplomatic channels and bilateral agreements.
“Young people are urged to exercise extreme caution when engaging with unsolicited offers for international employment, particularly those distributed via social media and other online platforms,” Selala said.
The Russian Embassy in South Africa has also responded to the concerns surrounding the Alabuga Start Programme, claiming that much of the criticism stems from international media coverage.
“Many of the commentators were quick to accuse Russia of ‘human trafficking’ and ‘exploitation’ based on unfounded allegations. It needs to be stressed that the Embassy has no information, apart from that spread through some biased outlets, of foreign nationals being subjected to forced labour, tricked into some actions, or otherwise experiencing violation of their rights in the course of the programme,” the Embassy said.
It added that the full list of residents of the Alabuga special economic zone is publicly available on its official website, while the Alabuga Start programme’s own platform contains feedback from participants.
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