A case against an Ethiopian national who was arrested on Tuesday on human trafficking charges following a high speed chase by law enforcement authorities, has been postponed to 14 January by the Booysens Magistrates Court.
The suspect was arrested by the Hawks after he was found to be harbouring 12 half-naked alleged teenage boys.
According to the Hawks spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, the suspect has been charged with 12 counts of kidnapping and one count of failing to stop on police instruction.
He initially appeared at the same court on Thursday, but the case was postponed to Friday, for the court to source an Amharic interpreter, but was again postponed to next week, for him to source a legal representative and possible bail application.
Meanwhile, the 12 “young adults” also appeared in the same court on charges of being illegal in the country.
Their case was also postponed to 15 January 2026 for possible guilty pleas.
“The medical assessment has since established that the 12 weren’t necessarily teenagers as previously reported but young adults between ages of 22 and 33,” said Mogale.
Ten of the victims were found walking half naked at one of the streets by law enforcement authorities in Mulbarton before they were rescued.
