Police find 44 Ethiopian nationals allegedly being kept against their will at Parkmore house

JOHANNESBURG - Police have discovered 44 Ethiopian nationals at a house in Sandton, allegedly kept against their will.

The group was found by private security guards in Parkmore while patrolling the area on Thursday morning when they heard people screaming.

They were taken to a local police station.

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Police said that 17 minors were among the group of illegal immigrants at the house in Parkmore.

The house, with a high white fence, is an active crime scene, with law enforcement officials and private security guards.

It's not clear at this stage how long the group has been here or how they arrived in South Africa.

Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said that the men were in a weak state.

"You could say that they were hungry, they were thirsty because they asked for food, they asked for water."

In April, police found 50 Ethiopian nationals who escaped after they were allegedly held hostage in a Lombardy East house in Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, 15 other Ethiopian nationals were rescued from a house in Sandringham.