South African police have rescued 26 migrants, believed to be from Ethiopia, who were being held captive in a house in a Johannesburg suburb.
Fifteen of the migrants were found naked inside the property, while 11 others, who had sustained injuries, were discovered nearby.
The injured migrants reportedly escaped by breaking through a window and forcing open a burglar bar.
The operation took place on Thursday evening in a north-eastern suburb of Johannesburg following a tip-off from concerned neighbors, according to police.
Authorities arrested three suspects during the raid, confiscating an illegal firearm. The suspects are accused of involvement in a human trafficking ring, which police say has now been dismantled.
In a statement, Col. Philani Nkwalase, spokesperson for the Hawks, a national agency specializing in serious crimes, confirmed that the rescued persons are being processed to determine their status as trafficking victims.
The conditions under which the migrants were held remain unclear, and authorities are investigating how they arrived in South Africa.
Photos released by the police show the broken window through which some of the migrants fled. The injured individuals were taken to a hospital for further treatment.
This incident points to the ongoing issue of human trafficking in South Africa. In a similar case in August 2024, authorities rescued 90 undocumented Ethiopian nationals held in inhumane conditions at a house east of Johannesburg during a search for a kidnapping victim.