The South African government has raised the alarm over fake international job opportunities circulating on social media, warning that young women are being lured into dangerous schemes disguised as legitimate work in Russia.
According to the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, the false offers mainly target women between 18 and 22 years old, promising attractive positions abroad. Officials stress that these so-called opportunities are not endorsed by the government and could expose young people to exploitation and human trafficking.
Spokesperson Cassius Selala urged caution, noting that real international employment arranged through government channels is only facilitated via official agreements and diplomatic processes.
“We recognise that youth unemployment is unacceptably high, but that should never be exploited through false promises. Any overseas job or study offer must be verified with the proper authorities before accepting,” Selala said.
Concerns have grown after several South African influencers promoted the Alabuga Start programme in Russia on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Among them was social media personality Cyan Boujee, who shared a video of her trip before deleting it. Reports suggest that the programme recruits young women under the guise of hospitality or study work but instead places them in factories assembling military equipment.
Investigations reveal that many women—some from Africa—were recruited in this way, only to find themselves working in poor conditions, facing long hours, withheld wages, restricted movement, and health risks from chemical exposure.
Officials have linked such operations to human trafficking syndicates. In some cases, victims had their passports seized on arrival, were kept under constant surveillance, and were cut off from family contact.
The government is calling on young people to double-check offers with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the Department of Labour, and the police before committing to any international job.
DIRCO officials further warned that if something “seems too good to be true,” it probably is, and urged anyone uncertain to seek verification directly from South African embassies.
The government says it remains committed to creating safe and genuine opportunities for young people at home, through initiatives such as the Presidential Employment Stimulus and the National Youth Service. However, officials stressed that protecting young women from exploitation will require cooperation from civil society, the private sector, and communities as well.
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