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Ten boys rescued in Mulbarton as foreign national arrested in trafficking case
A disturbing discovery on a quiet Johannesburg street
What began as a routine patrol turned into one of Johannesburg’s most unsettling crime scenes this week. On Tuesday, officers patrolling Broad Street in Mulbarton came across a group of eight half-naked boys walking together in visible distress. The children were unable to communicate in English, immediately raising alarm bells for the officers on duty.
The situation escalated quickly as police established that the boys were foreign nationals and possibly being moved through the city under suspicious circumstances. Within minutes, the incident shifted from a welfare concern to a suspected human trafficking operation.
A second vehicle and a dramatic chase
As officers questioned the boys, they received information that two other children linked to the group had already been taken away in a blue VW Jetta. The vehicle was soon spotted along the same route, but the driver refused to stop and fled, triggering a high-speed pursuit through Johannesburg streets.
The chase ended in the Johannesburg CBD on Commissioner Street, where police finally managed to intercept the vehicle. The driver attempted to escape on foot but was arrested shortly afterwards. The remaining two boys were rescued during the arrest, bringing the total number of children saved to ten.
Charges that point to a wider crime
According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, the suspect is a 47-year-old foreign national. He now faces charges linked to being in the country illegally, along with serious suspicion of human trafficking.
Colonel Katlego Mogale, the Hawks’ provincial spokesperson, confirmed that the case will be placed before the Booysens Magistrates Court on Thursday, where prosecutors are expected to outline the full scope of the allegations.
Why this case has shaken Johannesburg
Human trafficking cases often unfold quietly, hidden behind informal transport routes and overcrowded accommodation. What has unsettled many Johannesburg residents is how visible this incident was, with children walking exposed on a suburban street in broad daylight.
On local social media pages, residents have expressed shock and anger, with many calling for harsher penalties and better protection for vulnerable migrant children. Others praised the quick response by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, noting that the outcome could have been far worse had officers not intervened when they did.
A reminder of an ongoing crisis
South Africa remains a transit and destination country for human trafficking, particularly involving children from neighbouring regions. Experts have long warned that language barriers, undocumented status, and fear of authorities make young victims especially difficult to protect.
This Mulbarton case serves as a grim reminder that trafficking is not a distant problem but one unfolding in everyday neighbourhoods across Johannesburg. As the rescued boys receive care and the legal process begins, many will be watching closely to see whether this arrest leads to uncovering a broader trafficking network.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Thomas Greenberg
