THREE ETHIOPIAN SUSPECTS TO FACE ADDITIONAL CHARGES OF KIDNAPPING, EXTORTION AND SMUGGLING
GAUTENG – A meticulous investigation led by the Gauteng Serious Organised Crime Investigation of the Hawks in concert with with Sandringham SAPS, Dept. of Home Affairs, Dept. of Social Development and Ethiopian interpreter culminated in the additional charges against the three suspects for their alleged involvement in trafficking in persons, kidnapping, extortion and contravention of the Immigration Act.
The suspects were arrested on Thursday, 9 January 2025, after a tip-off led the joint police team to a house in Sandringham, where 26 Ethiopian nationals were held captive.
Further investigation revealed that one of the victims, was identified as a victim of a kidnapping case reported in Benoni in November 2024. The suspects allegedly demanded a ransom of R180,000.
Three more victims were interviewed with the assistance of an Ethiopian interpreter and it was established that they reportedly came to our country willingly.The interpreter will be aided by three additional interpreters from the Ethiopian Embassy to complete the statement-taking process on Monday, 13 January 2025.
The suspects will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrates Court on Monday, 13 January 2025, to face charges related to the Benoni kidnapping case. Additional charges of human trafficking or smuggling will be finalized after all victims have been interviewed.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa welcomed the developments and said the breakthrough on this case is a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders in combating trafficking and smuggling of migrants and related crimes.
