Fears of increased human trafficking during the Fifa World Cup have prompted the Salvation Army to launch a toll-free hotline aimed at helping people trafficked into the country. "We don't want to create a hype around 2010 but we fear it [human trafficking] will increase for purposes of commercial sex work," said Major Marike Venter, national co-ordinator of the Salvation Army anti trafficking task team. She was addressing media at the launch of the toll-free number in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The number - 0800-RESCUE or 0800-737283 - is expected to operate 24 hours a day.

Callers could be addressed in eight South African languages but there was no capacity to introduce languages like Portuguese, French and Swahili - languages mainly spoken in other African countries, said Brian Adams of Herd, the organisation running the toll-free line for the Salvation Army. "At the moment we don't have capacity but as we get more funding, we'll be able to expand," Adams said.

The toll-free number was for victims of human trafficking to report their cases and to for those wishing to report incidents of human trafficking. Venter urged the government to pass legislation on human trafficking to make it easier for police to deal with traffickers. "We know that the draft bill is being discussed in Parliament so we are adding our voice in support of what other organisation have said," she said. She said the Salvation Army had consulted with government and the SA Police Service in setting up the line.

News info source SAPA via  www.iol.co.za