Ten teenage boys believed to be victims of human trafficking were rescued in a coordinated law enforcement operation in Johannesburg, while a 47-year-old foreign national was arrested and is expected to appear in court this week.
According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), the rescue on Tuesday followed a joint operation involving Fox Security, the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), SAPS Mondeor and the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit specialising in trafficking in persons.
The incident unfolded during routine patrols on Broad Street in Mulbarton when JMPD officers were alerted to a disturbing scene. Police encountered a group of eight half-naked teenage boys walking along the street. Officers soon established that the boys were foreign nationals who could not speak English, raising immediate concerns about their safety and welfare.
Further enquiries revealed that two additional boys had earlier been taken away in a blue VW Jetta. The vehicle was later spotted and intercepted, but the driver attempted to flee, leading to a high-speed chase that ended in Commissioner Street in the Johannesburg CBD. The suspect was arrested, and the remaining two half-naked teenagers were rescued.
The Hawks confirmed that the suspect will appear before the Booysens Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 8 January 2025, facing charges of being an illegal immigrant and suspected trafficking in persons. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether more victims are involved and if the suspect is linked to a wider trafficking syndicate.
Gauteng Hawks Provincial Head Major General Ebrahim Kadwa praised the multi-disciplinary team for their swift response, saying coordinated operations remain critical in combating human trafficking, particularly in urban centres.
The incident comes amid growing concern over human trafficking in South Africa. The country is regarded by international bodies such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as a source, transit and destination country for trafficking victims, including women and children. Victims are often trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour and criminal activities, with foreign nationals particularly vulnerable due to language barriers, undocumented status and fear of authorities.
SAPS crime data and reports from civil society organisations indicate that hundreds of trafficking-related cases are reported annually, though experts warn the true scale is likely far higher due to underreporting.
In 2024, public outrage followed the discovery of several half-naked Ethiopian nationals found locked inside a house in Johannesburg, a case that also raised red flags about organised trafficking networks operating in the city.
