The criminal justice response to human trafficking: Exploring the investigative and prosecutorial hurdles

Abstract

Much has been written on the scourge of human trafficking, with majority of previous research
focussing on trends, forms, as well as the regulatory framework for countering the scourge. Despite
the presence of a vast body of knowledge on human trafficking, less attention has been given to the
operational dynamics that are involved in the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking
cases. This paper, which is based on a literature and documentary survey, evaluates the challenges
that are encountered by the criminal justice players in responding to human trafficking. The paper
specifically focuses on the challenges that are faced by law enforcement agencies in the investigation
of human trafficking, as well as the challenges that are faced in the prosecution of human trafficking
offenders. Whilst the paper takes a global approach to the problem, much attention is given to South
Africa and Zimbabwe- two neighbouring Southern African nations.