The Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) has welcomed the arrest of three suspects allegedly linked to a human trafficking ring in Johannesburg.
“The Gauteng Provincial Legislature commends the successful joint operation led by the Gauteng Hawks, Sandringham Police, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, and a private security company, which resulted in the rescue of 26 men believed to be Ethiopian nationals and the arrest of three suspects allegedly linked to human trafficking in Johannesburg,” it said in a statement on Friday.
According to the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks), authorities responded to a tip-off from neighbours about suspicious activities at a residence in the area. Upon their arrival on Thursday, they found 15 naked individuals, suspected to be Ethiopian nationals held captive inside the house.
Eleven others were transported to the hospital for medical treatment.
The Hawks said the three suspects, who were allegedly involved in human trafficking and illegal possession of a firearm, were found with a 9mm P Tokarev pistol, one magazine and no ammunition.
The provincial legislature said that human trafficking is a heinous crime and a gross violation of human rights, affecting millions of vulnerable individuals globally.
“The legislature is deeply concerned about the increasing prevalence of human trafficking in our province, where incidents have alarmingly risen four-fold over recent years. The Gauteng Provincial Legislature urges law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts to bring all perpetrators of these crimes to justice. As a law-making institution, we firmly support ongoing investigations and look forward to seeing further arrests and prosecutions in this matter,” said the GPL.
In September 2024, the GPL launched a province-wide campaign to raise awareness in communities of the scourge of human trafficking.
“This work is ongoing as we embark on roadshows across the five regions in Gauteng focusing, primarily on hotspot areas. This initiative has fostered greater collaboration among NGOs [non-government organisations], government departments, and other like-minded organisations to strengthen efforts to eradicate human trafficking in Gauteng.”
The legislature added that while it does not directly handle individual cases, it has taken proactive measures to address the issue including working closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and participating in the Provincial Task Team, which brings together key government stakeholders to tackle this growing challenge.
“The GPL remains committed to the protection of vulnerable individuals and [to] uphold the dignity and rights of all people. Together, through collective action and enhanced cooperation, we can bring an end to human trafficking and make Gauteng a safer place for everyone,” it said.
Additional charges
Meanwhile, the Hawks said that the suspects will also face additional charges for
their alleged involvement in trafficking in persons, kidnapping, extortion and contravention of the Immigration Act.
“Further investigation revealed that one of the victims was identified as a victim of a kidnapping case reported in Benoni in November 2024. The suspects allegedly demanded a ransom of R180 000.
“Three more victims were interviewed with the assistance of an Ethiopian interpreter and it was established that they reportedly came to the country willingly. The interpreter will be aided by three additional interpreters from the Ethiopian Embassy to complete the statement-taking process on Monday, 13 January 2025,” said the Hawks.
The suspects will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrates Court on Monday, 13 January 2025, to face charges related to the Benoni kidnapping case.
“Additional charges of human trafficking or smuggling will be finalised after all victims have been interviewed.”
In addition, the Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa welcomed the developments and said the breakthrough on this case is a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders in combating trafficking and smuggling of migrants and related crimes. -SAnews.gov.za
