Johannesburg – The African Union Commission has identified South Africa as the primary destination for migrants from sub Saharan Africa, with irregular migration and organised smuggling syndicates playing a major role in the movement of vulnerable people across borders.
This follows the discovery of 10 teenage boys believed to be Ethiopian nationals in Mulbarton, south of Johannesburg, earlier this week. The boys were found wandering the streets half naked and barefoot, prompting South African police to investigate a suspected human trafficking operation linked to safe houses in affluent suburbs.
Speaking during an interview, African Union Commission head of labour, employment and migration Sabelo Mbokazi said the Malberton case fits into a broader continental pattern where young people are moved illegally through transit countries before reaching South Africa. 
According to Mbokazi, migration across Africa is a complex and multi dimensional issue driven largely by economic hardship and conflict. He said the African Union views migration as a development matter that must be governed to ensure it is safe, orderly, dignified and regular.
He explained that the teenagers found in Mulbarton are likely victims of irregular migration facilitated by transnational criminal networks. These syndicates operate across land borders and airports, targeting young people searching for employment and improved living conditions.
Research conducted by the African Union shows that migrants from countries such as Ethiopia and Somalia often travel through Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana before reaching South Africa. This pathway, known as the southern route, has become increasingly active in recent years.
Mbokazi said trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants are closely linked to irregular migration. He noted that young migrants are particularly exposed to exploitation during these journeys, often travelling without proper documentation and falling under the control of criminal groups.
The African Union has responded by developing continental policies to combat trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants. It also works closely with law enforcement agencies including Interpol, Afropol and regional bodies such as the Southern African Development Community to coordinate cross border operations.
He added that cooperation between source, transit and destination countries is critical, as no single state can address the problem alone. Joint operations involving immigration officials and police services across borders are already being implemented to disrupt trafficking networks.
Economic pressure remains the main driver of migration across the continent, with conflict also forcing people to leave their home countries. Mbokazi said evidence shows that many of those displaced by conflict end up moving irregularly, making them easy targets for traffickers.
The African Union continues to convene ministers, border management authorities and immigration officials to strengthen migration governance. Recent meetings held late last year focused on improving border management and using technology to combat irregular migration and human trafficking across Africa.
