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Three Ethiopian nationals arrested in Johannesburg on human trafficking charges will face additional charges of kidnapping and extortion when they appear in court on Monday.
Hawks national spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Philani Nkwalase, said the three were arrested last Thursday in Sandringham after police were tipped off about suspicious activity at a house.
Police rescued 26 Ethiopian nationals from the property who were held against their will, many of them naked.
Nkwalase said one of the people rescued was a person who was kidnapped in Benoni and for whom a ransom of R180 000 had been demanded.
“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,” Nkwalase said.
