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Home Affairs denies fabricating child trafficking figures

Source: Dineo Bendile – EWN, 14/07/2015

JOHANNESBURG – The Home Affairs Department has dismissed claims that
it fabricated figures on child trafficking to push for the
implementation of its new visa laws.

The dept denies fabricating numbers to push for the implementation of
new visa laws.

The department has stated an annual figure of around 30,000 children
trafficked through South Africa.

But a report by the Times newspaper claims a Parliamentary reply has
revealed only 23 cases of child trafficking in the last three years.

The department said accusations about fabricated numbers are attempts
to discredit the purpose of its new visa regulations.

The department`s Mayihlome Tshwete said, "People continue the
desperation to try and move attention behind the real intentions of
the new visa regulations."

Tshwete said while figures presented on child trafficking have varied,
the need to protect minors remain a top priority."

"Even if they`re 10 children or five children being smuggled, abducted
or trafficked out of or into South Africa, they`re five or 10 too many."

Child protection groups have said that while trafficking of minors is
a concern there`s no conclusive research showing the extent of the
phenomenon in South Africa.

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