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‘We were misled’: Families speak as South Africans detained in Thailand
Promises that unravelled thousands of kilometres from home
What was sold as a fresh start in the information technology sector has ended in fear, silence, and detention for 14 South Africans now facing deportation from Thailand. Families back home say their loved ones were misled by a recruiter in South Africa and only realised the truth once they arrived in Southeast Asia.
According to relatives, the jobs that were promised simply did not exist in the form described. Instead, the group found themselves trapped in circumstances they never agreed to, with limited freedom and little clarity about what would happen next.
Inside detention, and cut off from the outside world
Speaking to the South African Broadcasting Corporation, one family member described distressing conditions inside detention. The group was allegedly prevented from contacting people outside Thailand and held in overcrowded cells with poor hygiene and minimal information about their legal rights.
For families watching from South Africa, the uncertainty has been agonising. Many say communication was sporadic at best, leaving them to rely on media reports and official updates to understand where their relatives were and whether they were safe.
Government steps in as deportation looms
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation confirmed that the South African embassy in Bangkok has been engaging regularly with Thai authorities. Spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said consular support has been provided in line with international protocols, with officials now assisting with travel documents ahead of the group’s return.
Coordination is also underway with authorities in South Africa to prepare for their arrival, expected in the coming days.
A pattern that is becoming alarmingly familiar
This case has struck a nerve because it is not an isolated incident. Over the past few years, concerns have grown about South Africans being lured to parts of Southeast Asia with glossy job offers that conceal far harsher realities.
Previous reports have detailed how some citizens ended up in countries such as Thailand and Myanmar, allegedly coerced into working in online scam operations. Earlier this year, the department confirmed that dozens of South Africans had already been repatriated from similar situations, while advocacy groups warned that many others may still be stranded or detained.
A warning for job seekers at home
In response, the department has renewed its warning to South Africans considering work abroad. Prospective travellers are urged to verify recruiters, scrutinise contracts, and be wary of offers that seem too good to be true.
For the families of the 14 detainees, the focus now is on bringing their loved ones home and piecing together how a promise of opportunity turned into a nightmare abroad. Their hope is that by speaking out, others might think twice before trusting an unverified path out of the country.
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Source: IOL
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