Over 30 naked men roaming the streets of JHB after escaping captivity

Law enforcement officials are urging South Africans to alert them should they spot at least 34 naked Ethiopian nationals who are at large after escaping a Lombardy East house, in Johannesburg, where it is believed they were held captive.

According to the authorities, they were among the 60 men they believe were kept at the house in the affluent suburb.

Fifteen of them were rescued from the house and are in police custody, while 11 others are receiving medical attention in hospital.

Three people have so far been arrested in relation to the suspected human trafficking case.

The incident comes months after more than 80 undocumented Ethiopians were found locked in a house in the same suburb, without adequate food and personal hygiene facilities.

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS)’s crime expert, Martin Ewi, says that while South Africans shouldn’t panic, the government should step up its efforts to address cases of human trafficking.

Ewi says no society should accept human trafficking as it is not only a crime but menace that fosters a culture of slavery.

“Human trafficking comes with so many social ills including crime. Human trafficking is also known to increase corruption, as we know that the traffickers are corrupt. It is a serious problem that the country should address as a whole and work to curb further intensification,” adds the crime expert.

“The government will need to reach out to the Ethiopian government to see how both countries can work together to stop the illegal flow of immigrants.”

Ewi has lamented how the human trafficking scourge is a huge issue in the East African regions, including countries such as Somalia.

Heartbreaking news in Sandringham – 30 Ethiopian nationals, possibly victims of human trafficking, are at large and in need. If you see anyone matching this description, please alert the authorities immediately. Human dignity first. #HumanTrafficking #JusticeForAll

— RoamingRiot (@RoamingRiot) January 10, 2025

South Africa is taken for fools. Worse the government exacerbates the situation. You have Somalis, presumably kidnapped for human trafficking, naked and running, if these people are indeed victims, why can’t they run naked TOWARDS A POLICE STATION or where they can get help?

— maswazi (@vinniemm) January 10, 2025

They were gonna be cleaned up and put at a spaza shop to sell us food, I hate DANC 😩

— PATRIOTIC MOVEMENT🇿🇦 (@BlackDew000) January 10, 2025

Why are these men not asking for assistance? Why are the hiding? Except being naked of course. They could have asked patrolling police vehicles, security companies and any passing citizen for assistance. They didn’t want to pay the balance of their escort service into RSA

— Basil (@Bas37234) January 10, 2025

South Africa yi playground ye foreigners. Mzuzu na mzuzu Somalians, Ethiopians, Nigerians, Zimbabweans, etc yhooo hayi

— Celona 🌻 (@B_Celona) January 10, 2025