Image Source: SA Gov
World – Human trafficking syndicates are luring young women with promises of lucrative job opportunities abroad, according to the Head of Public Diplomacy at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Clayson Monyela.
He has urged young people, especially girls, to be cautious of unverified foreign job offers, many of which are promoted by influencers on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
Monyela explained that these seemingly attractive opportunities often mask dangerous realities.
Syndicates use deception to lure individuals into exploitative conditions, far removed from the promises made online. He encouraged job seekers to exercise scepticism before committing to such offers.
“If something looks too good to be true, get a second opinion. Contact the department or any of our embassies in the country of interest,” he said.
The warning came after influencer and DJ Cyan Bujee, real name Honour Zuma, faced backlash for promoting the Alabuga Start programme in Russia.
The initiative presents itself as an international programme for young women aged 18 to 22 from Africa, Latin America, and South and Southeast Asia, promising career development opportunities abroad.
The programme advertises seven career tracks, ranging from catering and hospitality to logistics and production work. However, investigations have revealed a much darker side.
Many young women were placed in a drone manufacturing plant in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, Russia, where they worked alongside students as young as 16.
Young Women Targeted to Fill Labour Gaps
Women aged 18 to 22 were targeted from countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Latin America. These recruitment drives were linked to Russia’s labour shortages caused by wartime casualties and mass emigration.
“Most of the women interviewed by AP said that life at Alabuga did not meet their expectations. Four of the women interviewed said they had to work shifts of up to 12 hours and that they had inconsistent days off,” The Moscow Times reported.
The Alabuga zone has also been implicated in three research studies, including one by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS). These studies alleged that young African women were deceived into assembling Shahed 136 kamikaze drones under false pretences.
South Africa’s Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security Cluster has also raised the alarm over the issue. It confirmed that a social media video promoting the Alabuga Start programme was being scrutinised and warned against unverified job opportunities.
“The video clip circulated by a social media influencer, which purports to promote a two-year-long ‘Start program’ targeting young women in acquiring professional skills and commencing their careers, is currently under investigation.”
“Notably, the author of the post has since removed the promotional video from her social media platforms,” the cluster said.
Officials have since urged young people not to rely solely on social media when considering career offers abroad.
They stressed the importance of checking legitimacy through trusted sources. They encouraged job seekers to verify opportunities via DIRCO and South African embassies.
