Mrs South Africa 2025 contender Talitha Oosthuizen is on a mission to battle the epidemic of human trafficking, spreading awareness and encouraging South Africans to join the fight against this widespread crime as South Africa observes Human Trafficking Awareness Week from September 30 to October 7, 2025.
Oosthuizen is leveraging her platform to raise awareness and mobilise action across the nation.
She reveals that people are trafficked for reasons such as forced marriage, forced labour, sexual exploitation and pornography, while this hidden crime often happens through kidnapping, abduction, or threats to harm.
“For every statistic is a stolen life, a shattered family, and a community scarred by exploitation – it’s time we stand together to help fight trafficking in persons,” states Oosthuizen.
According to the 2023 report “Human Trafficking in South Africa” by the Human Sciences Research Council, the grim estimate reveals that up to 250,000 individuals may have fallen victim to human trafficking within South Africa alone.
Susan Saila, the founder of Shattering Shackles, a non-profit organisation dedicated to combating trafficking, underscores the severity of the situation. “These are both foreigners being brought into our country, as well as our own citizens being trafficked within our borders,” she explains.
It is revealed that South Africa serves as a significant destination, transit, and source country for trafficking victims, which predominantly includes women and children. Alarmingly, justice operations are limited, with current estimates suggesting that only one in 250 victims is identified and rescued from their captors.
In her campaign, Oosthuizen is not just raising awareness; she is also rallying support to expand the capabilities of Shattering Shackles. The beauty queen is advocating for funds to contract investigators, psychologists, and other essential professionals, all vital for enhancing the chances of rescuing trafficked individuals. “By working together, we can ensure that more lives are protected,” she asserts.
Through her strategic partnership with Shattering Shackles, Oosthuizen is actively engaging with schools and communities, educating young people about the dangers of trafficking, including the grooming tactics used by perpetrators and practical self-protection methods. By addressing these issues, she aims to empower the youth, creating a proactive community against human trafficking.
Oosthuizen's efforts extend beyond trafficking; she also highlights the alarming connection between human trafficking and gender-based violence, acknowledging that the two issues often intersect to perpetuate cycles of abuse and vulnerability within communities.
“What sits beneath the crown must be compassion, purpose, and a calling to serve,” says Oosthuizen. “For me, this is about demonstrating my Christian faith to serve by helping to save lives, not just chasing a dream or a crown.” Her mission reflects a broader call to action, inviting all South Africans to come together and combat the dark realities of trafficking in their communities.
Saturday Star