By Doreen Mokgolo
Police found 33 male human trafficking victims cramped inside a room of a house in Mackenzie Park in Benoni, Ekurhuleni on Sunday night.
KwaZulu-Natal police led the operation after the case was opened in the province before their investigations took them to Benoni and Gauteng police assisted in the operation.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said a team of detectives were investigating a case of human trafficking that was reported at the Glenwood Park Police Station last week.
“We were looking for a foreign national whose brother reported him missing. He was allegedly called by someone to collect a parcel from Springfield Park and this was the last time they saw him,” he said.
“We followed up on leads which led us to a house in Gauteng, Benoni. The victim was found with 32 other victims cramped inside a one-roomed house.”
The nationalities of the victims are yet to be confirmed.
One suspect was arrested and police are expecting to make more arrests.
On Monday morning the house was quiet with only police tape still barricading the house.
Resident Suenesh Naidoo said she uses the street daily but has not picked up on anything suspicious coming from the house.
“The house is always quiet as if there is no one staying here,” she said.
“This shows that our children and residents are not safe in their community. We are pleading with the police to arrest other suspects to ensure that they don’t commit similar crimes again.”
Pictured above: Thirty-three victims found cramped inside one room.
Image source: Supplied
