Mathatisi Sebusi
THE closure of textile factories in Lesotho has led to a tragic surge in human trafficking, with many desperate Basotho women falling prey to traffickers who exploit their need for employment.
Lured by the promise of stable jobs, these women are trafficked into South African textile firms where they are forced to work under gruelling conditions without pay.
One of the victims, Masuzan Pillay (46), from Ha Tsolo, recounted her harrowing experience to the?Sunday Express.
After being retrenched from Presitex in May 2023, Ms Pillay, along with 20 other co-workers, was approached by a woman who is well-known in the textile industry.
The woman promised them jobs at a factory in Ladybrand, South Africa, with a monthly salary of M3800. However, upon their arrival, the women were shocked to find themselves working day and night without pay, under harsh conditions, and without any employment contracts.
“All we were told was that we would start work at 7am and knock off whenever the boss told us to. Some days, we worked day and night with no payment,” Ms Pillay said.
“We were fed nothing but pap and cabbage every day, and our requests for payment were ignored with excuses that the company had no money.”
The situation worsened when South African police raided the factory and arrested the workers for illegally working in the country without proper documentation. Their employer paid a fine to secure their release, only to force the women back to work in even more degrading conditions, as if to “repay” the fine.
“I believe we were trafficked. We worked day and night, barely fed, and when we asked about our wages, they said there was no money. We eventually had to ask our families to rescue us, as we had no means to return home.”
The women received only half of their promised salary in August, just as they were planning their escape back to Lesotho. Ms Pillay revealed that they had been easily convinced to travel to South Africa due to their desperation following their retrenchment.
This exploitation is not an isolated incident. Lesotho’s textile industry, once a significant source of employment, has been in decline, forcing thousands of Basotho into vulnerable situations.
The CGM Group, for instance, closed in July last year, leaving 10 000 Basotho jobless.
The CGM’s Friday reopening has brought some hope, with 300 job opportunities and the potential to employ up to 1000 people by December (see story on page 6).
However, the economic impact of the industry’s collapse is still being felt.
Speaking at the relaunch of CGM, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Business Development, Mokhethi Shelile, said they were aware of the struggles faced by Basotho in South African textile firms. He said the government plans to open a new factory every month until the end of the year, aiming to create 10 000 jobs within six months to curb the flow of Basotho women into exploitative labour in South Africa.
“Basotho are ill-treated in New Castle, South African, and other provinces. These are skilled workers trained here at home. We want to bring them back to use their skills for the benefit of Lesotho.”
The government’s efforts are not just about creating jobs. The Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) has shifted its focus from the American market, which has become unprofitable due to rising shipping costs.
The LNDC Chief Executive Officer, Molise Ramaili, said the shipping cost from South Africa to America surged from USD$3000 to USD$11 000?(depending on size of container being shipped)?due to the pandemic, making it difficult for Lesotho to compete in the U.S. market.
“To combat these challenges, we sought access to the South African market, which is more competitive and accessible. We’ve also secured agreements with local retailers in South Africa who have committed to purchasing Lesotho’s products,” Advocate Ramaili said.