Ethiopian Teenagers Rescued After Escaping Alleged Traffickers in Johannesburg
Johannesburg – Ten Ethiopian teenagers were rescued in southern Johannesburg after they were found wandering the streets of Mulbarton and Bassonia, barefoot and partially clothed. The teenagers had allegedly escaped from a house where they were being held, prompting a police investigation into human trafficking.
The series of events unfolded on Monday night when private security guards in Mulbarton encountered a group of eight distressed teenagers, dressed only in their underwear. According to the guards, the teenagers appeared confused, exhausted, and struggled to communicate, speaking limited or no English. One guard recounted that the teenagers were "panting and couldn’t speak English," and only seemed to understand the word "cellphone," as they desperately sought to make a call.
As the guard was about to assist them, a police vehicle arrived, causing the teenagers to flee and hide behind a nearby school. The police apprehended the group, leading to the discovery that they were victims of an alleged kidnapping.
In a separate incident in Bassonia, two more half-naked teenagers approached security officers with a similar request for a cellphone. These teenagers managed to convey that they had escaped from a house in the area. The guards provided them with food and water, and the teenagers used a phone to contact another Ethiopian national. This individual allegedly offered the guards R5,000 to hand over the teenagers, raising suspicions and prompting the guards to call for backup. However, the two boys disappeared before backup arrived.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale confirmed that the two teenagers were later rescued from a 47-year-old foreign national who was attempting to flee with them in a blue VW Jetta. The vehicle was intercepted after a high-speed chase by a JMPD (Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department) officer. "The boys were rescued, and the suspect was arrested for being illegally in the country and for human trafficking," Mogale stated.
Investigations revealed that all ten teenagers had escaped from the same house, where they were allegedly held after being kidnapped. The suspect is expected to appear in court soon, and investigations into the alleged trafficking operation are ongoing.
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