A 22-year-old woman from Bonteheuwel, Cape Town, has been safely returned home after becoming the victim of  suspected human trafficking in Southeast Asia — a harrowing ordeal that left her mother traumatised and desperate for help.

The young woman (who is still traumatised and afraid to be identified) had initially travelled to Phuket, Thailand in search of employment and a better future. But shortly after her arrival, she was transported to Cambodia, where her passport was confiscated and she was forced into a situation she never agreed to.

Her 52-year-old mother recalled the heartbreak of receiving her daughter’s first phone call — nearly a month after she had left the country.

“My heart broke into a million pieces,” she said. “She told me she was scared, that they took her to a place to work, but it was not what she was originally told. I didn’t know what to do or where to start to look for help — it was the first time I heard of something like this.”

“Any mother would lose herself. Imagine not being able to help your child, especially when they are thousands of kilometres away.”

The emotional toll was so great that she lost her job after making mistakes at work, something she attributes to exhaustion and stress. “That whole ordeal traumatised me. I couldn’t eat, sleep, or think straight. I just wanted my daughter back. I kept wondering: is she safe? Is she eating? Then, after days of silence, I could breathe again when she said: ‘Mommy, I’m okay — but I want to come home.’”

Relief only came when Ward Councillor Angus McKenzie phoned to confirm that a rescue operation was under way.

“All I can say is thank you. I think she googled his number — I didn’t even ask. I’m just thankful she’s back. When she came through that door… wow!”

McKenzie detailed how he worked swiftly to verify her story, contacting DA international relations spokesperson Emma Powell and anti-trafficking NGO A21, while coordinating with the Department of International Relations (DIRCO) and the South African embassy in Thailand.

“She was left in very uncomfortable circumstances — things no person should face,” said McKenzie. “She was afraid, hadn’t eaten, and had no money. Once she escaped to a safe location, we were able to get her into a partner embassy in Cambodia.”

There, she was cared for while officials worked around the clock to secure her emergency travel documents. She was then flown from Cambodia to Phuket, then to Dubai, and finally home to Cape Town.

“We spoke every day,” McKenzie said. “I had to keep her hopeful, keep her believing that we were coming for her. And we did.”

Emma Powell, who assisted in the coordination efforts, said the case underscores the rising risk of modern slavery targeting vulnerable South Africans abroad.

“Unemployment drives people to search for opportunities overseas, and that’s when we see trafficking syndicates exploiting the desperate,” she said. “Never hand over your passport to recruiters. Always have terms and conditions agreed in writing. And if in trouble abroad, go straight to the local South African embassy.”

Siseko Maposa, Director of Surgetower Associates, said the woman’s case was part of a disturbing pattern. “This is not an isolated incident — it reflects systemic failures and the growing sophistication of cross-border criminal networks,” he said.

Glory Matipile, founder and CEO of Baagi Ba South Africa, a local anti-trafficking organisation, criticised government inaction and the lack of public awareness campaigns on modern slavery.

“Human trafficking is a real and persistent crisis, yet government silence has made it feel like a taboo topic — even in Parliament,” said Matipile. “Cases like this will continue, because for too long it’s been business as usual in South Africa. Victims are still ignored, and organisations like ours often have to use the media just to get attention.”

She warned that over 1,500 South Africans are currently in foreign prisons, many of whom were tricked into trafficking rings under the guise of job opportunities. “There is no political will to sign international prisoner transfer agreements or to protect citizens abroad,” she added. “Instead, desperate families are left forming WhatsApp support groups while the government turns a blind eye.”

Matipile encouraged job-seekers to be cautious: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is — no landlines, Gmail addresses, and overly generous salaries are all red flags. Always verify recruiters and contact the Department of Labour or trusted organisations.”

Help is available through:

• Baagi Ba South Africa at 073 208 1742 or baagibasouthafrica@gmail.com

• National Freedom Network at 0800 222 777 (24/7 line) or info@nfn.org.za

• The Salvation Army at 08000 73728

Weekend Argus reached out to the young lady for comment. She however asked for privacy to process everything.

“I am still dealing with the trauma and spending as much time with my family.” 

tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus 

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