WATCH: Dozens of Ethiopians flee Joburg ‘hostage house’

Authorities have since taken 34 individuals into custody.

Speaking outside Sandringham Police Station, Gauteng police spokesperson Mavela Masondo confirmed that the escapees, aged between 13 and 24, would be investigated further. 

He added that law enforcement will collaborate with other departments, including the Border Management Authority, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Department of Social Development, to verify their status in the country.

“We are going to work with the Border Management Authority, and we are also working with the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Social Development because we are talking about minors here,” Masondo said.

Authorities are also searching for the owner of the property. 

Masondo stated that the Hawks would take over the case should it be a case of human trafficking, as the exact reason the foreign nationals were brought into South Africa remains unclear.

“For now, no one has been arrested. It’s only the people we have taken in as illegal immigrants, but investigations are ongoing to determine the owner of the house where the suspects were allegedly kept against their will. We are still looking for that person,” Masondo added.

Law enforcement is also seeking an Ethiopian translator, as the detained suspects do not speak English.

First responders, including Keneen Hing from 1Track, received a distress message from their security group reporting people screaming in the area. When they arrived, they found individuals running from the house.

“We found about eight victims inside the house. They told us they had been kept hostage. Then we asked for directions and proceeded to the Alexander Riverpark area, where we found another 15 suspects with Sandringham SAPS,” Hing said.

“We brought the Ethiopians to the station, where we found another four or five suspects near the Flamingo Shopping Center on Joburg Road, and later, we found another group on the N3 highway.

“As far as we know, this is a very large human trafficking case involving multiple nationalities, including Ethiopians, Malawians, and others,” he added.

Neighbours reported that this is the second time in a short period that the house has been discovered harbouring undocumented foreigners. 

In January, police rescued 15 Ethiopian nationals who were being held against their will at the same location in Lombardy East.

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