SOUTH African police said they rescued 90 Ethiopian migrants who were being held against their will at a property in Johannesburg.
Police carried out a search at the property on Sunday for a person reported to have been kidnapped and discovered the migrants, they said. Two people were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and human trafficking. The alleged kidnapping victim was also rescued, police said Monday.
The Ethiopian migrants are believed to have been illegally trafficked. They were packed into small rooms and kept locked up, police said.
They were taken to a hospital for medical care and the two suspects will face charges in court.
Authorities, including Interpol, have raised concerns over the trafficking of Ethiopian migrants through several southern African countries in an attempt to ultimately reach South Africa. The migrants are often trafficked and kept in dangerous conditions.
The rescued migrants are currently receiving medical care and support services. Authorities are working to ensure their safety and well-being while coordinating with Ethiopian consular officials to facilitate their return home.
This incident underscores the ongoing issue of human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals seeking a better life. South African authorities have reiterated their commitment to combating trafficking networks and bringing those responsible to justice. South African Police Rescue 90 Ethiopian Migrants Held Against Their Will
South African police announced the rescue of 90 Ethiopian migrants who were being held against their will at a property in Johannesburg. The discovery was made during a search on Sunday for a reported kidnapping victim. Upon searching the property, police found the migrants packed into small, locked rooms.
Two individuals were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and human trafficking, and the alleged kidnapping victim was also rescued. Authorities believe the Ethiopian migrants were illegally trafficked and subjected to dangerous conditions. The rescued migrants were taken to a hospital for medical care.
The suspects will face charges in court. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about the trafficking of Ethiopian migrants through southern African countries, often with South Africa as the intended destination. Interpol and other authorities have raised alarms about the perilous conditions these migrants face during their journey.
In 2020, at least 64 people from Ethiopia were found dead inside a freight container in Mozambique. In 2022, the bodies of 30 Ethiopian migrants were found in a mass grave in Malawi.
That same year, the bodies of 27 Ethiopian men were found dumped in Zambia.
