South African police rescued 90 Ethiopian nationals who were allegedly held against their will in Johannesburg. The incident highlights the ongoing issue of human trafficking and the concerted efforts by law enforcement to address this grave problem.
The operation took place in Sunnydale Ridge on Sunday, executed by a multidisciplinary team led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Special Task Force (STF) unit. The aim was initially to trace a kidnapping victim.
During this mission, they uncovered 90 undocumented Ethiopian nationals confined in inhumane conditions.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, police spokesperson, confirmed that the kidnapped victim was among those rescued. According to Mathe, the victim was abducted in Benoni on Tuesday, and kidnappers had begun demanding ransom money from his family shortly thereafter.
Following the rescue, all Ethiopian nationals were taken to the hospital for necessary medical care. On the scene, authorities apprehended two suspects who are believed to be the human traffickers and kidnappers.
These individuals are expected to face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking and will appear before the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court soon.
Brigadier Mathe emphasized that such operations are the result of detailed coordination among various units, including crime intelligence, organized crime detectives, and private security. Last week, the police successfully rescued a businessman kidnapped at a mosque and arrested eight suspects, unveiling a broader kidnapping and human trafficking network.
This case has now been transferred to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) for further inquiry. These actions underscore the seriousness with which South African authorities are tackling these heinous crimes.
