By Johnathan Paoli
The International Relations and Cooperation Department has confirmed the safe return of 23 citizens who were rescued from human traffickers in Myanmar after being lured overseas by false job opportunities.
The victims arrived in South Africa on Thursday after a complex repatriation effort facilitated by the department and the Border Management Authority.
The group was among 7000 individuals from various countries who were held captive in a cybercrime compound near the Thai-Myanmar border and subjected to forced labour, brutal conditions and physical abuse while being coerced into participating in online scams targeting people worldwide.
The South Africans were deceived by fake employment agencies advertising lucrative overseas jobs on social media.
Once they arrived in Thailand, they were forcibly transported to Myanmar where they were held under 24-hour armed security.
Reports indicate that traffickers demanded ransoms of R50,000 for their release, with the victims enduring extreme hardships for
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