24 October 2026
Botswana maintained its Tier 2 status in the US 2026 trafficking in persons report, outpacing South Africa as Pretoria struggles. The United States Department of State has retained Botswana on Tier 2 in its 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, praising Gaborone for anti-trafficking law enforcement strides that saw the country secure its first conviction in four years while South Africa trails on the lower Tier 2 Watch List.
According to official assessment data released by the US Department of State on 8 October 2026, Botswana demonstrated “overall increasing anti-trafficking efforts” by sentencing a convicted trafficker to 15 years’ imprisonment and expanding dedicated prosecutorial coverage nationwide.
In contrast, South Africa stagnated on the Tier 2 Watch List after recording zero convictions, failing to activate key protective legislation for 13 consecutive years, and facing systemic corruption within law enforcement agencies.
How Botswana tackled trafficking in persons
During the reporting period, authorities in Gaborone investigated four human trafficking cases, prosecuted one suspect, and secured the 15-year prison sentence. The Directorate of Public Prosecution expanded specialised prosecutorial offices to Maun, Selibe Phikwe, Palapye, Kasane, and Tsabong to improve geographic coverage.
Additionally, government officials identified and referred nine victims to care, adopted the Employment and Labour Relations Act of 2025 to prohibit worker-paid recruitment fees, and expanded specialised police units, according to US report.
By comparison, South African law enforcement conducted 11 investigations and prosecuted 28 suspects but failed to convict a single trafficker, down from 27 convictions in the prior period.
Washington highlighted severe “official complicity” and bribery within the South African Police Service and Department of Home Affairs. Furthermore, Parliament’s failure to enact implementing regulations for Chapter 3 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act left foreign victims without legal protection for a 13th year.
Broader regional security and economic fallout
Botswana’s proactive security posture was further highlighted in November 2025 when the Botswana Police Service arrested six Mexican nationals for entering through an ungazetted point, raising fears of transnational cartels spilling across borders.
While Mexican cartels have established multi-billion-rand methamphetamine laboratories inside South Africa, Botswana’s swift judicial action reinforces its reputation as Southern Africa’s most stable destination.
World Bank data previously highlighted Botswana as one of the continent’s least corrupt nations, making it a top haven for South African expats.
South Africa’s alleged governance and labour failures have triggered harsh diplomatic backlash from Washington. On 24 July 2026, the United States imposed a 12.5% trade tariff on South African exports over unaddressed forced labour practices.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated: “American workers should not have to compete against goods made with forced labour.”
This was compounded on 15 September 2026 when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa restrictions targeting officials tied to redress policies, leaving Pretoria isolated on multiple fronts.
By Tebogo Tsape
Source: https://shorturl.at/OSlcq
