Three people were arrested in Johannesburg after 26 Ethiopians escaped a suspected human trafficking ring by breaking a window and burglar bars. The group had been held captive in a house, and 11 were taken to the hospital. The police are investigating the case, and language barriers are hindering further details.

Three individuals were arrested after a group of 26 Ethiopians escaped from a house in Johannesburg, where they were allegedly being held in a suspected human trafficking operation. The group managed to break a window and a burglar bar to flee from the house, where they were reportedly being kept naked.

The arrests were made on Thursday night after neighbors in the Sandringham suburb heard commotion and alerted the police. The Hawks serious crime unit confirmed the arrests, which were made on suspicion of human trafficking and possession of an illegal firearm. Police have also urged the public to report any other individuals found in similar circumstances.

Reports indicate that about 60 Ethiopian men were being held in the bungalow. Local news outlet eNCA showed footage with what appeared to be bloodstains near an open window at the house. Eleven individuals were taken to the hospital for medical treatment, but some of the victims remain unaccounted for.

Police spokesperson Philani Nkwalase stated that the signs pointed to a human trafficking operation, as the victims were kept in a degraded state, which likely served to humiliate them and prevent escape attempts. “The signs that we have are that this is a human trafficking matter, because they were actually escaping from that house and they were kept naked, almost as if it’s a modus operandi to keep them humiliated and not trying to escape,” Nkwalase explained.

South Africa has long been a destination for immigrants from across Africa, but rising concerns over issues like drug trafficking, unemployment, and violent crime have contributed to ongoing xenophobia. According to the 2022 census, there are approximately 2.4 million foreign-born individuals in South Africa, with about 58,000 Ethiopians among them.

In a similar case in August 2024, 82 Ethiopians were discovered living under poor conditions in the same area of Johannesburg, lacking sufficient food and proper facilities. Seven were initially identified as minors, and others claimed to be underage when brought to court on charges of illegal entry into South Africa. The Department of Home Affairs later clarified that they were undocumented migrants who had been smuggled into the country, but not victims of trafficking.

Authorities are still working to determine if the two incidents are linked and are seeking an interpreter to assist in communication with the victims, as language barriers have hindered their investigation. A neighbor of the house where the escape took place expressed shock, noting that the only time anyone had been seen at the property was when her son retrieved a ball that had gone over the fence weeks earlier.