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The trafficking of children for purposes of sexual exploitation

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my mother to the hospital. <strong>The</strong>n after my mother went to the hospital, I couldn't get any money to go<br />

to see my mother in the hospital. <strong>The</strong>n I was worried then - my father was there. He said to me let's<br />

go to see your mother in the hospital. <strong>The</strong>n I said okay. <strong>The</strong>n we went to the hospital, with the taxi.<br />

And as soon as we got to the hospital, I was worried about my mother. And the time we left at home,<br />

my sister gave me a chain to give it to my mother. <strong>The</strong>n they said to me I mustn't get inside, I must<br />

wait outside. <strong>The</strong>n they talked to my father. <strong>The</strong>n they gave my father my mother's clothes. <strong>The</strong>n I<br />

asked my father where's mum? <strong>The</strong>n they told me my mother passed away yesterday night. I said<br />

oh, God. I don't know what to do. After that the situation changed at home. With sleeping without<br />

eating. My father couldn't even pay the school. <strong>The</strong>n one <strong>of</strong> my teachers at school came at home.<br />

After he came at home, he said I know what's wrong, and I'm so sorry. But I've got somebody who<br />

can help you. <strong>The</strong>n I said okay. <strong>The</strong>n he took me to the other woman whose name is Jackie. She's<br />

the white woman, and the other one who is Sister Angelina from Diepsloot at the clinic. <strong>The</strong> Sister<br />

Angelina I know that Sister. <strong>The</strong>n they helped me. <strong>The</strong>n they bought me some food, some clothes,<br />

and they were coming to see me at home. <strong>The</strong>n Jackie said, I know a safer place where you can<br />

stay. <strong>The</strong>n I said okay I will be happy. <strong>The</strong>n Jackie talked to Mama <strong>The</strong>njiwe. We went out. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

took me out to the zoo. And after that, on Sunday then they came to fetch me. Mama <strong>The</strong>njiwe came<br />

to fetch me.<br />

10. Conclusion<br />

Trafficking <strong>of</strong> <strong>children</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>purposes</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>sexual</strong><br />

<strong>exploitation</strong> does not require the crossing <strong>of</strong> borders. A<br />

large portion <strong>of</strong> <strong>trafficking</strong> in South Africa occurs from<br />

rural to urban areas, urban to semi-rural areas, within<br />

communities, such as when <strong>children</strong> are trafficked into<br />

gangs. <strong>The</strong> violations and harm suffered by in-country<br />

victims are no less than that suffered by cross border<br />

victims. For example, the harm suffered by a teenage<br />

girl sold into a gang by a parent(s) can be as great or<br />

even greater than the harm suffered by a person<br />

trafficked a few thousand kilometres across a border.<br />

In general commentators and child rights activists agree<br />

that the in-country <strong>trafficking</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>children</strong> <strong>for</strong> the<br />

purpose <strong>of</strong> <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>exploitation</strong> is inextricably linked to<br />

the <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>exploitation</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>children</strong>, generally. This is<br />

linked to the vulnerable position that <strong>children</strong> find<br />

themselves in relation to adults. <strong>The</strong> vulnerability <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>children</strong> is reflected in the causal factors that contribute<br />

to the phenomena <strong>of</strong> the <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>exploitation</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>children</strong><br />

and the <strong>trafficking</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>children</strong> <strong>for</strong> this purpose.<br />

Research findings illustrate how severely the socio-economic situation in South Africa impacts on<br />

the vulnerability <strong>of</strong> <strong>children</strong>. <strong>The</strong>se findings reflect high unemployment, and school dropout rates,<br />

lack <strong>of</strong> effective social welfare support <strong>for</strong> <strong>children</strong> and families, lack <strong>of</strong> effective safety and<br />

protection services <strong>for</strong> <strong>children</strong>, changing patterns in parenting and high levels <strong>of</strong> domestic<br />

violence.<br />

Poverty, alone, however, should not be regarded as the overriding factor <strong>for</strong> the <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>exploitation</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>children</strong>. Although poverty could create conditions that may contribute to such <strong>exploitation</strong>. A<br />

variety <strong>of</strong> factors interplay with each other when it comes to the <strong>sexual</strong> <strong>exploitation</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>children</strong>.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se factors include:<br />

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