According to reports, 90 Ethiopians packed into locked rooms in inhumane conditions were discovered by police in South Africa during the weekend.
In light of the discovery, two suspects were arrested on allegations of kidnapping and human trafficking.
Police made the discovery while searching for a man who was kidnapped for ransom earlier in the week, AFP reports.
Officers “rescued 90 undocumented Ethiopian nationals who were allegedly being kept against their will and under inhuman conditions,” a statement said.
“They were found locked up, confined and packed into rooms.”
They are currently receiving medical attention.
Fortunately for the police, the man being searched for was among the Ethiopian nationals.
Despite its dull economic growth, South Africa is the most industrialised nation on the continent, and it draws millions of migrants, primarily from other African countries.
Most come from Malawi, Lesotho, and the Horn of Africa, but the largest group is from Zimbabwe.
In September of last year, a house in the eastern part of Johannesburg was discovered to contain approximately 102 undocumented foreign nationals, with most of them being Ethiopians and some as young as ten years old.
According to Aaron Motsoaledi, the Minister of Home Affairs, they were brought to South Africa to run general stores nationwide.