Mapping the Shadow Enterprise Ecosystem: A Multi-Tiered Strategic Analysis of Human Trafficking Networks and Border Vulnerabilities in the SADC Region
Jacob Tseko Mofokeng ORCID ↗
International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy · 2026 · Vol. 8 / Issue 5 · 281-294
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Observed 21 Oct 2026, 00:14 UTC
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Abstract
Human trafficking in Africa has evolved from localised criminal exploits into a complex multi- Human trafficking in Africa has transitioned from isolated criminal exploits into a complex, multi-scalar shadow business ecosystem that intersects directly with transnational organised networks, systemic corruption, and regional conflict corridors. This paper provides a strategic, interdisciplinary analysis of the enterprise dynamics of trafficking in persons (TIP) across three distinct geographical tiers: the domestic landscape of South Africa, the regional migration and supply corridors of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the overarching regulatory frameworks of the African Union (AU). Utilising a systematic policy document analysis and qualitative content analysis of peer-reviewed research, institutional reports, and statutory frameworks active between 2015 and 2026, this study interrogates the systemic friction between state-centric border-containment mechanisms and enterprise-level human-asset protections. A qualitative content analysis of 60 core documents, conducted in NVivo 14, yielded 342 distinct text codes, illustrating how regulatory conflicts, supply-chain vulnerabilities, and institutional corruption stabilise illicit operations across the African continent. The empirical findings reveal that while robust legal frameworks exist, severe execution gaps persist due to strategic intelligence failures and a lack of cross-border data synchronisation. Specifically, this paper illuminates the emerging trafficking-mercenary nexus, wherein deceptive digital human-resource recruitment practices exploit socio-economic market gaps to trap individuals into forced combat servitude or illicit cyber-scam operations. Ultimately, this study proposes a harmonised, multi-tiered response architecture that links subnational vulnerability mapping with regional supply-chain tracking, transforming anti-trafficking strategic interventions from reactive containment into proactive, structurally integrated corporate and public protection systems.
Keywords: {'name': 'African Union'}, {'name': 'Human Trafficking'}, {'name': 'SADAC Corridors'}, {'name': 'South Africa'}, {'name': 'Transnational Crime'}
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Jacob Tseko Mofokeng
University of South Africa
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