Transnational human trafficking in the SADC Region: A case study of South Africa and Mozambique

Abstract

Just as across the world, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is not an exception to the global problem and scourge of transnational human trafficking, which continues to pose difficulties for governments and societies at large. This study investigates the root (push and pull) causes of human trafficking the effects it has on regional security, and the effectiveness of the SADC frameworks in addressing the issue. The study examines how shifts in legal frameworks, and socioeconomic circumstances have affected trafficking trends over time, with a particular focus on South Africa and Mozambique between 2014 and 2024. Where applicable, it draws from earlier research. It uses a case study methodology to investigate migration flows from Mozambique to South Africa, revealing how regional efforts are weakened by political unpredictability, corruption, a lack of funding, and unequal law enforcement among member states. The results demonstrate how migration, governance, and human insecurity are intricately linked in determining cross-border vulnerability. As a result, the report urges SADC states to work together more closely, implement more grounded and context-aware policy interventions, and put more of an emphasis on safeguarding those who are most vulnerable to exploitation. This study is structured by the necessity to comprehend the reasons behind the persistence of trafficking despite continuous interventions in the region. The main goal is to look at the patterns and dynamics of transnational human trafficking between Mozambique and South Africa from 2014 to 2024 using a cross-border analysis. The study is directed by research inquiries that investigate the impact of human security threats, the constraints of coordinated regional responses, and the effect of legal and policy frameworks on trafficking patterns. It uses a qualitative desktop research method that relies on secondary sources, literature, and policy documents. This lets it do an analysis that is based on history and context, even though it doesn't have any empirical data. Based on human security theory, the study highlights the actual vulnerabilities of affected populations and argues that more coherent, context sensitive regional responses are essential to tackle the intricacies of human trafficking.