A new report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) alleges that human trafficking operations have expanded significantly from Cape Town's Central Business District (CBD) into suburban neighbourhoods. This expansion involves extreme exploitation, forced drug dependency, and conditions described as modern-day slavery, according to the full findings of the GI-TOC report. The report notes a disturbing shift in the landscape of organized crime within the metropolitan area.
Suburban trafficking operations are reportedly blending into quiet residential streets across various neighbourhoods, making them difficult to detect by the casual observer. GI-TOC identified areas such as Rugby, Brooklyn, Tijgerhof, Lansdowne, and Wynberg as key locations where these illicit activities are now taking root. This decentralisation marks a significant challenge for law enforcement and community organisations working to combat human trafficking. The report shows that these operations are not isolated incidents but rather part of a broader, interconnected criminal enterprise.
Roots of Suburban Expansion
The roots of this suburban expansion trace back to the Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020. The closure of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs during this period had a profound impact on established criminal operations. These closures disrupted traditional protection and extortion rackets, which had long been sources of revenue for criminal organisations. In response to this disruption, human trafficking emerged as an alternative and highly lucrative revenue stream for these groups, allowing them to maintain and even expand their financial base during a period of economic uncertainty.
Major Cape street gangs, including the notorious 28s and the Sexy Boys, responded to these changing circumstances by forging strategic partnerships with Nigerian criminal networks. These alliances proved key, as they facilitated the shift in operations and the expansion into new territories beyond the CBD. Jerome "Donkie" Booysen, who is alleged to lead the Sexy Boys gang, has been specifically flagged by law enforcement and non-governmental organisations in connection with these activities, indicating the involvement of high-profile figures in the criminal underworld. This collaboration between local gangs and international networks has been a key factor in the decentralisation of trafficking operations from the city centre to residential areas, creating a more widespread and insidious problem.
Criminal Network and Tactics
The criminal network driving this expansion is complex and multifaceted. Transnational syndicates play a key role, often initiating the trafficking process by recruiting vulnerable women through deceptive means. These syndicates frequently offer false employment opportunities, luring victims with promises of legitimate work and better lives, only to trap them in exploitative situations upon arrival.
The physical infrastructure for these operations often involves properties that are rented, sublet, or directly controlled by individuals connected to organized crime. This network of properties provides a discreet and seemingly legitimate cover for illicit activities. For instance, the GI-TOC report notes that one landlord, with confirmed ties to the 28s gang, owns multiple properties specifically in Cape Town's northern suburbs. These properties are believed to be instrumental in housing victims and facilitating trafficking operations. Another landlord manages an even more extensive portfolio, controlling up to 48 properties across various parts of Cape Town, all of which are reportedly used for a range of criminal operations, including human trafficking. This extensive property network shows the sophisticated logistical planning involved in these criminal enterprises.
Victims, once ensnared, are deliberately exposed to highly addictive substances, including tik (crystal meth) and heroin. These drugs are frequently provided on credit, creating a profound and debilitating dependency. This tactic serves to further entrench victims within the trafficking network, making escape incredibly difficult due to both physical addiction and financial debt. The exploitation is severe, with many victims receiving zero cash payment for their forced labour or sexual exploitation. However, some victims are paid, with amounts reportedly reaching up to R1,500 monthly, according to GI-TOC's findings, though this sum is negligible compared to the profits generated by their traffickers.
Law Enforcement and Rescues
Law enforcement operations have led to several critical rescues and arrests in the affected suburbs, demonstrating ongoing efforts to combat this growing crisis. In May 2026, authorities successfully arrested a foreign national in Brooklyn and rescued three women, aged between 21 and 26, from trafficking. This intervention noted the vulnerability of young women to these criminal networks. Another significant intervention occurred on June 24, 2026, when a larger group of 15 trafficking victims were rescued from a single residential property located in Milnerton, showing the scale of operations being conducted from seemingly ordinary homes.
Approximately 25 victims, originating from South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, have been rescued as part of investigations into this interconnected network. These rescues indicate that the trafficking rings are not only operating locally but are also drawing victims from other parts of the country, exploiting internal migration and economic disparities. Legal action has also resulted in convictions, sending a message that these crimes will not go unpunished. Two foreign nationals, specifically linked to a residential property operation in Brooklyn, were convicted in 2024. These individuals faced serious charges of human trafficking, kidnapping, and drug dealing, showing the multifaceted nature of the criminal activities involved and the severe consequences for those perpetrating them.
Broader Implications and Context
The expansion of human trafficking in Cape Town is unequivocally driven by a complex and dangerous alliance between local street gangs, transnational syndicates, and complicit private landlords. This collaborative framework allows for the systematic exploitation of vulnerable individuals, turning residential areas into clandestine hubs for illicit activities. The GI-TOC report emphasizes that this alliance represents a significant evolution in the organized crime landscape of the region, posing new challenges for law enforcement and social services.
This current situation stands in stark contrast to earlier assessments of human trafficking in the city. In 2008, a study conducted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) indicated that human trafficking was not considered a significant characteristic of Cape Town's sex industry at that time. The ISS study found that approximately 5% of sex workers surveyed were foreign nationals, suggesting a relatively limited presence of international trafficking. This historical data notes a dramatic shift in the nature and prevalence of trafficking in the region compared to current reports from GI-TOC, which now describe widespread suburban expansion and deep entrenchment of sophisticated criminal networks. The escalating scale and brutality of these operations necessitate a strong and coordinated response from all stakeholders.
