The trafficking of children for purposes of sexual exploitation

5.11. Family relationships and how it operates for the girls/ Family collusion
A number of the girl children's parents and extended family members know the gang leader. They
are either related to him or their parents are indebted to him for money paid in exchange for the girl
child or because he had helped with the payment of accounts for rent or food.
The web of family involvement for some of the girl children is quite complex and difficult to
unravel. An indication of how it operates for some of them is provided below.
The extract is lengthy but is provided to show the levels and complexity of family and how it
operates to keep children in this situation.
One-day Lorraine and I were lying in the road. We each had a pair of shorts over our heads and we had two cases of
beer. We were drinking and drinking. The two of us were talking about what it would have been like if we had been
home in Hanover Park, it would have been nice, and we would have been free. Tiffany, Lorraine's sister, heard us
talking and told Zunaid that he should come and listen to what we were saying about going back home. Zunaid just
looked at me. We were still lying, in the road. We didn't know what was going to happen next. Zunaid came toward us
and we jumped up. He hit me against my mouth, and kicked me against the wall. I just stood there. I was just standing
there. He was beating me with a broomstick, in the road. He chased Lorraine with the broomstick in the road. As we
stood there he was beating both of us in the road. And he said, "Oh you want to go to Hanover Park, "we said "No! It's
not true "we were just talking about what it would have been like had we been there. He said yes you are taking me for
a 'p' and he beat us.
I ran to the toilet. I did not want to cry in front of him. I sat and cried there. Cried, I cried for my mother. My mother
could not hear because she was not there. I washed my face. My lip began swelling, my head started aching because of
the way he beat me knocking my head against the wall. I came out of the bathroom and went out of the house. Auntie
Catherine said, "Don't cry, it will be all right" and I said, "Don't talk to me." We both went back into the house. I drank
two beers to take away the headache. Tiffany gave me a snowball160 and I started smoking, after that everything was
Okay, I was laughing again. And then Zunaid asked me if he and I now have an understanding and I said that we did.
That night I went to work with the swollen lip. As I was standing on the road the Lanies asked who beat me and I just
said that I'm fine and I had a fight. The girls tried to take over our territory. – Belinda
5.12. Relationships with boys
Relationships with boys whether they are gang members or from outside the gang is discouraged to
the extent that girls are not allowed to look at other men. If caught looking at a boy or man they are
beaten. The reason given by the girls is that the gang leader is jealous and wants them for him.
That the girls desired relationships with other boys indicate their desire for development and growth despite the
difficult circumstances in their environment.
We are not allowed to look at anyone. Once I was looking through the window watching other young men and one of
the guards saw me, he told Zunaid and for that I also had a beating. He then accused me of being promiscuous. –
Belinda
Then Zunaid came in and asked his son what I was doing in the lounge, his son replied, "Daddy she was watching
another guy" I said "No, its not true, I did nothing like that. I was just pouring the wine.” Then he said to his son "Wait
she is not finished yet, she has something more to say". Then he said he does not want to hear anything anymore. Then
he told his son to beat me. He told his son to beat me on my body only not my face and head and to make sure that I
don't walk again. Then his son beat me. I ducked and bent on the ground. My body was sore. He kicked my body. I still
have pain since the time he kicked me. That was my punishment. – Lorraine
He's very quick to say that we only think about handsome men. I can take a man if I want to, but as far as he's
concerned you can't have a relationship with another man. He wants you for himself. – Chantal
5.13. The escape
Getting away is a constant desire for the children. Attempts to do so however are often thwarted.
Some of the girls who had escaped were found and abducted again, as was the case with Lorraine.
The children employ a variety of strategies to escape. They typically leave alone. Some of these
escape stories are described, below
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