Watch – What I saw on a Johannesburg street one night in January

What began as a routine stop at a petrol station turned into a disturbing encounter with suspected victims of a human trafficking operation in a Johannesburg suburb. After noticing several barefoot teenage boys in the custody of private security, unable to speak English and showing signs of abuse, I helped alert authorities. Within hours, police and community safety groups had rescued 10 foreign nationals and arrested a suspect. This is the story of how a hidden crime unfolded in plain sight — and what it revealed about trafficking networks operating in South Africa’s cities. Daily Maverick’s Aneesa Adams explains.