At least 50 foreign nationals escape alleged hostage situation [VIDEO]

At least 50 people believed to be foreign nationals in South Africa are on the run after allegedly being held hostage in Johannesburg.

It is understood that the foreign nationals escaped from a house in Lombardy East on Wednesday morning.

The foreign nationals were caught on camera by neighbours who heard loud noises coming from outside their houses.

When they looked, they saw scores of foreign nationals running down the street, some naked and others carrying bread.

The foreign nationals are believed to be of Ethiopian descent, as well as from other countries.

Lombardy East, Joburg: About 50 foreign nationals escape from alleged kidnapping situation. Residents say suspicious activity had been happening for weeks. #SAnews #CrimeAlert #LombardyEscape pic.twitter.com/qxbVsXBMMQ

— Isabella Marie Thompson (@Isabella031993) March 26, 2025

Police have managed to rescue 30 of the foreign nationals who were part of the group that escaped in Lombardy East.

However, by Wednesday afternoon, the South African Police Service (Saps) had not released a detailed statement on the incident.

ALSO READ: Hawks bust human trafficking ring in Joburg, 15 Ethiopians rescued

The translator of the escapees detailed the conditions they endured as hostages in the house.

He said some of the victims were as young as 15 years old.

Dozens of foreign nationals have escaped from a house in Lombardy East, Johannesburg. The translator of the escapees details the conditions they endured as hostages. #Newzroom405 Afrika's Liyema Vumisa reports.

Watch: https://t.co/dJFH7WYCEj pic.twitter.com/kNZN9XGJ0Y

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 26, 2025

Human trafficking ring

In January, law enforcement authorities rescued 15 Ethiopian nationals who were being held against their will in a house in Sandringham, a Johannesburg suburb.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, said 11 Ethiopian nationals had been hospitalised while dozens escaped, most naked.

Hawks spokesperson Colonel Philani Nkwalase told The Citizen they swooped in after residents reported suspicious activities to the local police.

Nkwalase said a joint operation between Sandringham Saps, Gauteng Hawks, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and a private security company led to the dismantling of a human trafficking ring in Sandringham.

ALSO READ: More than 30 human trafficking victims rescued in Boksburg