The South African Government has cautioned young people to be wary of international job offers advertised outside official diplomatic channels, following the emergence of online recruitment posts targeting youth aged 18 to 22.
In a statement on Monday, August 25, the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities stressed that legitimate employment opportunities abroad are arranged through formal bilateral agreements and Government structures. It clarified that recent job offers circulating on social media for positions in Russia were not facilitated through any official Government process. Urging young people to exercise “extreme caution” when dealing with unsolicited opportunities.
The department said it would engage with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the Russian Embassy in Pretoria, and the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance to clarify the legitimacy of such offers. It further advised that any international work or study opportunity should first be verified with relevant authorities, including DIRCO, foreign embassies, the Department of Employment and Labour, and the South African Police Service. The warning comes months after 23 South Africans were rescued from human traffickers in Myanmar, having been deceived with promises of lucrative jobs but later forced into online scams and abuse.