From a small office in Ballito, a powerful global movement is being quietly driven forward. Love Justice International, an organisation dedicated to combatting human trafficking, operates in 19 countries across Africa and Asia, and its global anti-trafficking headquarters is right here on the North Coast.
Founded 21 years ago, Love Justice began in Nepal with a mission to care for orphans. But it was at the Nepal-India border – one of the busiest open borders in the world – that the team uncovered a darker crisis: young girls being trafficked. What started as orphan care evolved into a bold mission to stop trafficking before it starts.
In 2006, Love Justice expanded its work to include intercepting potential victims of human trafficking in Nepal, India and Bangladesh. In 2016, they launched a method called transit monitoring in South Africa and have since expanded to multiple locations globally.
On the ground:
spotting red flags
Transit monitoring is the heart of Love Justice’s fieldwork. Trained teams of monitors are stationed at high-traffic areas like borders, bus stations and airports, where they identify potential victims based on specific red flags – signs of vulnerability, suspicious travel plans or indicators of debt bondage.
“Imagine someone travelling to marry a stranger they met online two weeks ago or a teenager being taken to another country with vague job promises,” says Siphokazi Makhubela, a member of the Ballito-based team. “Our monitors are trained to spot small but significant signs that others might miss.”
Once a red flag is identified, the monitor engages the person, explains the risks, and helps them make an informed decision. In cases involving minors or evidence of criminal activity, law enforcement and guardians are called in.
To date, Love Justice has intercepted over 88 000 individuals before they could be trafficked. These interventions have led to more than
1800 arrests of suspected traffickers.
Online intervention from South Africa
South Africa was the first country outside Asia to join Love Justice’s mission. It is also home to the team that pioneered their online job monitoring model.
Based in Johannesburg, the team identifies suspicious job listings – often posted on platforms like Facebook – and investigates them. Are they linked to real companies? Are the recruitment practices ethical?
“If we find red flags, we notify the applicants and tell them the truth,” explains the team. “We even offer a free service where anyone can send us a job ad and we will screen it.”
Their work not only protects South African communities, but now supports online safety efforts in other countries too.
A tech-and-training hub in Ballito
While monitors in the field are intercepting trafficking in real time, the Ballito team provides essential support behind the scenes. With around 10 staff members, the hub is home to software developers, data analysts, trainers and compliance officers.
They build and maintain Love Justice’s internal tools, including the anti-trafficking database that tracks every case.
“Every single intercept is carefully documented, checked by independent reviewers in that country and verified through a rigorous process. We want to be confident in the numbers we share. These are real people’s lives.”
Ballito is also home to the global training and compliance team. They equip frontline staff across the world, ensuring they are skilled, supported and operate ethically.
“We work with emergency effort, as if every person we intercept was our own sister, brother or child,” says Siphokazi.
Local roots, global impact
Though Love Justice’s work may not be highly visible in Ballito, their local presence is growing. Community support is beginning to build, with local churches hosting fundraisers and awareness events.
“Our heart is to build stronger connections with the community,” says Siphokazi. “We would love for our hub to be seen as a place of hope, not just in Ballito, but in the world.”
Details: Read real stories of people who have been intercepted and protected from trafficking at www.lovejustice.ngo;
IG: @lovejusticeintl
