The SAPS Special Task Force (STF) rescued 90 undocumented Ethiopian nationals who were allegedly being kept against their will and in inhumane conditions in Sunnydale Ridge, Johannesburg, yesterday.

According to SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, while tracking down a victim who had been kidnapped, a multidisciplinary team under the direction of the STF discovered undocumented nationals who were locked up and crammed inside rooms.

“Amongst the Ethiopian nationals was the kidnapped victim, who was also rescued. The victim was kidnapped in Benoni on Thursday.

“His kidnappers immediately started demanding hundreds of thousands of ransom money from his family,” says Mathe.

She says the Ethiopian nationals were taken to hospital.

“Two alleged human traffickers and kidnappers who were found on the property have been arrested.

“They are likely to face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking and are expected to appear [in] the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court soon.”

The case has been handed over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations for further investigation.

Mathe says the operation would not have been successful without help from crime intelligence, organised crime detectives, Sandringham and Daveyton police and private security.