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Daily Maverick reports that a harrowing ordeal for 23 South Africans has ended after they were rescued from a forced labour camp in Myanmar. The men and women were brought home by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) on Thursday.
According to Dirco, they were lured to Thailand by false promises of employment advertised on social media but were held captive and forced to participate in illicit activities, including online scams. “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 Dirco. The South Africans were among 7,000 people from various countries who were rescued after Myanmar authorities raided a cybercrime compound. The department revealed the harrowing conditions endured by the victims of the human trafficking operation for more than four months, which included intimidation, physical torture and forced labour. They were forced to run cyber scams for 16 hours a day and were beaten and tortured if they refused. They were kept under 24-hour armed guard, given spoiled food and contaminated water, and denied medical treatment. Dirco said social workers from the Department of Social Development would screen the victims, after which they would be transported to health facilities for medical assessments. They will also receive psychosocial support.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lerato Mutsila at Daily Maverick
- Read too, Twenty-three South Africans freed from human trafficking nightmare in Myanmar, at News24
- En ook, 23 SA’ners uit Mianmar gered, by Maroela Media
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page