Police discover suspected trafficking victims in Joburg
* Editor's note: This is a developing story. We will bring you updates as more information becomes available.
JOHANNESBURG - Dozens of people believed to be Ethiopians have been found locked in a house in Parkmore, Johannesburg.
Police responded to a call about suspicious noises from the house.
A case of human trafficking is being investigated.
Security strategist Andy Mashaile said a security company responding to the scene found the men locked in a room.
"The images [from the scene] indicate how these human traffickers have enjoyed using South Africa as a haven for their criminal activity," he said.
SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said police managed to get inside the house and found 44 men.
"They said they were locked inside this house. For now, we are treating them as illegal immigrants," Masondo said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
Youth Month highlights need to protect youth from crime
Safety must remain top of mind for everyone, especially teenagers and young adults, who are particularly vulnerable to crime. SA continues to face alarmingly high levels of crime and violence, and too often, young people are the ones targeted. Therefore, Youth Month should serve as a rallying call for parents and caregivers to renew their commitment to youth safety. 'As adults, we have the responsibility to teach young people how to stay safe and secure,' says Charnel Hattingh, the group head of communications and marketing at the Fidelity Services Group. 'If we can instil in them the ability to avoid risks and look after themselves, we can have a real, positive impact. A good place to start is by equipping young South Africans with the tools they need to be safe.' Hattingh says much can be done to improve safety near schools and shares practical advice for Youth Month. 'Areas around schools are often prime spots for opportunistic criminals. Children walking with cellphones visible are particularly at risk, and there are still cases where learners are either threatened with a weapon or tricked into handing over their phones to a 'stranger in need'.' Other crimes common near schools include hijackings of parents waiting to pick up their children, armed robberies and vehicle theft. 'Criminals count on parents being distracted during school drop-off and pick-up times. Many are absorbed in their routines, not paying attention to their surroundings. This is the danger of daily monotony,' Hattingh says. She offers these safety tips for parents and learners: • Children should never leave school premises with anyone they don't know; • Those waiting to be fetched should remain inside the school grounds; • Children who walk home should do so in groups and stick to familiar routes. Hattingh stresses the importance of preparing children for when things go wrong. 'It's essential that children of all ages know how to respond to danger. Do your kids know how to contact the SAPS or find help in a busy public space if you're separated? Have you practised what they should do in those situations? There are good, honest adults willing to help; children need to know how to find them.' 'We have a responsibility to create a safer world for future generations. That starts with empowering children today,' she says. Lastly, Hattingh encourages parents to maintain open communication with teenagers so they feel confident to speak up and report abuse. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
4 hours ago
- The South African
SAPS to launch online recruitment system for 5 500 new trainees
The South African Police Service (SAPS) will launch a new online electronic recruitment system as it seeks 5 500 police trainees to join its ranks. The recruitment of the trainees whose training will commence between January and February 2026 will be advertised before the end of June. Notably, for the first time in the history of the SAPS, they are introducing the online electronic recruitment system which will allow aspiring applicants to apply online to join the ranks. National police commissioner general Fannie Masemola said that they have increased the age limit to join their ranks to 35 years of age in line with the National Youth Policy. Masemola said they are moving away from the manual way of doing things and embracing the use of technology to tighten the control measures and enhance accountability. 'The introduction of this online electronic recruitment system aims to avoid allegations that manual applications are being lost and misplaced in the recruitment process,' he said. Currently, there are 5500 police trainees at various SAPS academies nationwide who will graduate in August while the rest will graduate in December this year. All 5 500 will be deployed to various police stations and units to bolster the crime fighting efforts, Masemola added. CAPACITATION AND FILLING OF VACANT POSTS We have been hard at work in ensuring that we increase our footprint and bring services closers to the communities that we serve. In the last five years, we have managed to build 31 police stations across the country. These include, Bolobedu police station in Limpopo, Qhasa police station in the Eastern Cape and the Tafelsig police station in the Western Cape, just to mention but a few. In terms of capacitation, Masemola said through project 10 000 they have been able to increase our numbers on the ground. 'In the past three years, we have added 30 393 more boots on the ground. These newly trained police officers have been deployed to various police stations and units including our detectives to put perpetrators behind bars and to enhance our detective performance; our public order police (POP) unit to enhance our crowd management capacity and capabilities; and our Forensic Science Laboratories to increase the processing of forensic evidence that will ultimately assist to convict perpetrators of crime.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
13 hours ago
- The South African
POLICE SEIZE DAGGA WORTH R7 MILLION IN MPUMALANGA
The police in Tonga confiscated dagga amounting to approximately R7 million in Sibange near Tonga, Mpumalanga, on Friday, 13 June 2025, following a high-speed chase with the Ehlanzeni District (Tonga Task Team). The task team was conducting a stop and search operation in the Sibange area when they stopped a grey VW Polo. However, the driver refused to stop, prompting a chase that went on for 10 kilometres. After the long chase, the suspect abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot. Police recovered more than 20 compressed bags of dagga and confiscated the vehicle. 'The suspect eventually abandoned the vehicle in the Khombaso area and fled into nearby bushes. Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered 24 compressed bags of dagga, believed to be worth millions of rand,' read the police statement. The SAPS urged anyone with information on the suspect's whereabouts to contact the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or to submit tip-offs via the MYSAPS App. The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Northern Cape, through Operation Vala Umgodi, has arrested eight suspects in connection with drugs. The eight suspects, aged between 24 and 49, were arrested during a multi-disciplinary, intelligence-driven operation conducted in the Frances Baard District. Operational teams discovered a significant quantity of abandoned dagga at the Beefmaster illegal mining site. The first five male suspects were arrested at a construction site in Rhodesdene for breaking the South African Immigration Laws after it was discovered that they had entered the country illegally. Furthermore, two more suspects were arrested in an informal settlement near Tlhageng, Galeshewe, for drug dealing. Police seized drugs, including methamphetamine (commonly known as Tik) and Mandrax tablets during the arrest. Lastly, a 31-year-old male suspect was apprehended in De Beershoogte, Barkly West, after also being found with suspected Tik and Mandrax tablets. The drugs were seized as evidence. The suspects are expected to appear before the Kimberley and Barkly West Magistrates' Courts on Tuesday, 17 June 2025. The police encouraged citizens to report any criminal activity anonymously on via the MySAPS App or by contacting the Crime Stop hotline on 08600 10111. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
