A 47-year-old foreign national has been arrested following the dramatic rescue of ten teenage boys found half-naked on Johannesburg streets, in what authorities suspect is a major child trafficking operation.
The rescue unfolded Sunday when Johannesburg Metro Police officers on patrol in Mulbarton encountered eight partially clothed teenage boys walking along Broad Street. The victims, all foreign nationals who could not speak English, appeared disoriented and distressed.
Officers quickly learned two additional boys had been taken away in a blue Volkswagen Jetta. A high-speed chase ensued through Johannesburg’s streets, ending on Commissioner Street, where the suspect fled on foot before being apprehended. The two remaining boys were found inside the vehicle.
The joint operation involved Fox Security, Johannesburg Metro Police, SAPS Mondeor, and the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit specialising in human trafficking.
The suspect faces charges of illegal immigration and suspected trafficking in persons. He is scheduled to appear in Booysens Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, January 8, 2025.
Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Gauteng, commended the multi-agency response. “This operation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to combatting human trafficking in the province,” he said.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to identify the victims and determine the full scope of the alleged trafficking operation.
