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An example of exploitation in this field concerns the renting of children to accompany beggars.
In 2011, the South African police investigated a crime syndicate that involved panhandlers
renting babies and small children (from daycare centres for poor people) for about 30
ZAR (25 SEK) per day. Children are also rented directly from the mothers. In these cases,
older children’s legs are sometimes broken so that the children appear smaller when tied to
the “mother’s” back. Smaller children garner more sympathy. Children may also be drugged
so that they appear sickly. This practice can net up to nearly 700 ZAR (540 SEK) per day. 175
Another contentious issue is that of children performing. If operated well and in line with current
legislation it can be not only a source of income (often distributed as school fee support),
but also a way to boost self-esteem and keep children off the streets. On the other hand, there
are situations where children are forced to perform with little or no compensation or regard for
their physical and emotional well-being. There is a demand from tourists to see children performing
traditional songs and dances, and this can lead to positive change for vulnerable and
poor children. According to the Sectorial Determination 10, a person or business that engages
children in the performing arts must have a permit from the Department of Labour. But what
about street performances Kathy Bergs from Fair Trade Tourism says that tourists should
look for information about the organizers of the performance, such as the organization’s name
and status (non-profit is most common), whether they have a website or other contact details
and whether there is a responsible adult accompanying the children. If you cannot find this
kind of evidence (often displayed on a small sign next to the performers), it is probably better
not to give money as you may contribute to forced child labour. 176
The reason why children end up on the streets in the first place is because their everyday life
is no longer viable. The most common reasons for children to leave their homes are abuse of
alcohol and/or drugs by parents (who thus cannot ensure their children’s safety), ill health of
parents, and poverty. Often, children will soon find themselves in a situation of drug addiction
(glue sniffing, marijuana or even crack cocaine) that they continuously need to support
through begging, crime or prostitution. Many children also prefer the relative freedom that
life on the streets affords them – away from abusive parents and domestic duties. 177
Children are also trafficked to, and within, South Africa for other purposes, such as work in
the farming sector, illegal mining, drug couriering, street vending or begging, and domestic
work. Of these groups, the street vendors and forced beggars often come into direct contact
with tourists in city centres such as Cape Town and other tourist hot-spots. Young children
are particularly vulnerable to this type of trafficking and forced labour due to their ability to
generate emotional appeal. 178
The Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill, passed in 2010, aims to solidify
South Africa’s commitment to international legal instruments aimed at countering and
preventing human trafficking such as the Palermo Protocol and ILO’s Convention 182 on
the Worst Forms of Child Labour. 179
No child’s play | 31