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Rescuers saved 29 suspected human trafficking victims in Laezonia, with some still unaccounted for and a major investigation underway.
Some of the trafficked individuals, who spoke in an Ethiopian dialect, were initially mistakenly arrested by authorities before it became clear that they were trafficked. Picture: Supplied
Joburg North residents are asked to keep a lookout for escaped trafficking victims who may still be hiding in and around periurban areas in Laezonia, Centurion, according to Human trafficking extraction and care non-profits Reload Faith and The Value Of One.
The alert comes after private agencies and law enforcement rescued 29 suspected victims of human trafficking.
A group of young men were seen running through the area on Tuesday morning.
Victims of human trafficking rescued
Residents reported the group to authorities, believing they were trespassers. It was later confirmed they were likely victims of a human trafficking operation.
Police first apprehended 13 men, aged between 16 and 30.
They were found without shoes, documentation or any means of identification, according to a statement by the agencies.
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“Many showed signs of longterm abuse, were visibly malnourished and required immediate medical care. Some sustained injuries while escaping through fencing. Others were being treated for older wounds, allegedly caused by smugglers.”
After their arrest, several of the young men said they believed asking for help would require payment.
That raised concern among responders about the extent of manipulation and control to which the group had been subjected.
Manipulation and control
Further searches in the area led to the discovery of another 16 individuals, bringing the total number found to 29.
Emergency services were called in to assist and all victims were offered food, water and medical attention before being transported to health care facilities.
Family members have since come forward, indicating that some of the victims may have been held captive for as long as eight months, the organisations wrote.
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Many of the victims were in hiding at the time of discovery. A translator familiar with the Ethiopian dialect was asked to assist with communication, as most of the rescued individuals had limited understanding of where they were or whom they could trust, the statement noted.
Local community members assisted by providing meals and water to the victims.
“There would never have been such a successful outcome had it not been for a police, emergency services and private security collaborative intervention,” said a representative of Reload Faith, who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the organisation’s work.
‘Trafficking is escalating’
“Human trafficking is escalating and combating it requires a massive, cross-functional team with as many role players as possible. It is a scourge and this week’s victims again illustrate the crisis we face,” he said.
The victims have since been placed in temporary shelters with the assistance of human trafficking support organisations like Reload Faith and The Value of One.
A coordinated investigation is now underway to determine the origin of the group, the identities of those responsible and the location where the victims were allegedly held.
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